Classics: My Uncle

In the ultra-modern home of the Arpel family, everything is automated and tightly organised, but precisely because of this there is little room for spontaneity or play. Their son Gérard grows up in this controlled environment and is visibly bored. The arrival of Monsieur Hulot, Madame Arpel’s brother, disrupts this carefully ordered world. His casual and playful way of living constantly clashes with the logic of efficiency and design, leading to a series of comedic situations. At the same time, he becomes an unexpected source of imagination and freedom for the young Gérard. To limit his influence, Hulot is even put to work in his brother-in-law’s plastics factory, where he once again causes chaos within a system that strives for perfection. The film has been restored in 4K, making the visual precision of Tati’s mise-en-scène, the architecture of the modern world, and the physical comedy stand out even more clearly. Mon Oncle thus marks a transition toward Tati’s more analytical and visually composed cinema, where humor arises from space, rhythm, and the clash between humans and the modern environment.