Jacques Tati Av David Bellos

<p>The full story of one of France''s greatest cinema legends, a clown whose film-making innovation was to turn everyday life into an art form.<br><br>Jacques Tati''s Monsieur Hulot, unmistakable with his pipe, brolly and striped socks, was a creation of slapstick genius that made audiences around the world laugh at the sheer absurdity of life. This biography charts Tati''s rise and fall, from his earliest beginnings as a music hall mime during the Depression, to the success of <i>Jour de F</i><i>ête </i>and <i>Mon Oncle, </i>to <i>Playtime, </i>the grandiose masterpiece that left the once celebrated director bankrupt and begging for equipment to complete his final films. <br><br>Analysing Tati''s singular vision, Bellos reveals the intricate staging of his most famous gags and draws upon hitherto inaccessible archives to produce a unique assessment of his work and its context for film lovers and film students alike.</p>