Hulot for the Holidays

If you've noticed, there has been a trend in design and animation in the last few years towards the unique and sometimes outrageous style of the late fifties and early sixties. Just look at the popularity of Ikea, or The Incredibles' loving tribute to that certain era of Eichlers, Nelson and Eames, not to mention Monsters Inc.'s mid-century industrial complex. The list goes on!



But that way-out "futuristic" look did start somewhere, and was not always so lovingly looked upon. For a great example, let's take a look at the classic French film Mon Oncle, a comedy by the legendary silent comedian of the sound era, Jacques Tati. It stars his hilarious creation, Mr. Hulot with his distinctive turned up nose, accented by his pointy pipe, pointy hat, and big triangular overcoat. In the film, Mr. Hulot is confronted by outrageous Modernity in it's many forms, at home, at work and driving around town. But Mr. Hulot's uninitiated simplicity just proves to foil this new Modern style's pretentiousness. Scene after scene, the film really hits the sterile minimalist nail on it's stainless steel head. I actually really did like the design of the house in the film, maybe because it's been such a well looked upon style in today's media. But Mon Oncle really gave me a chance to see it through fresh eyes, pointing out the less attractive and impractical side of it's bold shapes and long, low angles, (that side I also like) which I hadn't really seen presented so well on the screen before! So if you'd like to take a trip back to the late fifties, see a sobering take on it's modern style, and laugh all the way there, please do check out: Mon Oncle!



The Powerpuff house?