Film Studies

Cinema Classics Seminar: Playtime

Funny Mondays
Monday, August 24, 2026, 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm  
Instructor: Jennifer Fleeger, Ph.D., Montclair State University

As his character Monsieur Hulot, Jacques Tati spent nearly two decades bouncing through French cities and towns, accompanied by sound effects that emphasize the humor in modern life. Yet Tati’s films also offer a critique, calling attention to the creativity lost amid mid-century industrial innovation. Nowhere is this more evident than in Playtime (1967), for which Tati constructed a massive Parisian set, but through which “Paris” is but a reflection. Instead, characters marvel at the purported utility of identical office buildings and inane inventions, only for Hulot’s bumbling to reveal the truth: we can restore humanity to a technologically-dominated landscape by transforming mass-produced objects into art. 

This seminar discusses Tati as a paradox: a visionary artist with a career built from slapstick tradition. We’ll talk about his unique cinematic style and his films’ exploration of the loss of individuality. Most of all, we’ll talk about Tati’s approach to film sound. Of Tati’s sound effects, theorist Michel Chion said, “He uses them to ask a question, and we have to find the answer in the images…he wants us to observe.” A hilarious satire of urbanization and mechanization, Playtime nonetheless makes full use of the cinema’s technological potential to see (and hear) the world anew. 

Are you interested in “just” seeing this movie? Visit the public screening page here.

Cinema Classics Seminars offer an entertaining and engaging way to learn more about some of the true classics of world cinema. All students receive an introductory lecture before the film and a guided discussion after the film. In addition, those in attendance receive a ticket to see it on the big screen, as well as popcorn and a drink. Please note: the screening associated with this seminar will be open to the public, as well.

Please contact BMFI Programs and Education Manager Jill Malcolm with any questions.