Playtime is a totally unique experience in film.

a) the set, incredible. A study in an imaged (but real) style of architecture (and universe of color, steel and concrete)
b) a satire (modernity versus not)
c) sheer dizzying beauty (the film enters into a lengthy jazz segment where the film itself simply becomes jazz; and it’s is purely transcendent)

Like a lot of great comics you either love Tati or you don’t. But Tati differs from others in that he (as M. Hulot) is not the central character, but rather the film itself (mainly the set actually) is the star.

Narrative is subservient to “pure style” or “comedic MO.” But in spite of the lack of conventional narrative, there are still a wealth of memorable (and in fact, well-developed) characters.

Even the title…