With the international success following around Jacques Tati’s two previous films, Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953) and Mon Oncle (1958), there shouldn’t have been too many problems leading up to the release of what should be considered the director’s masterpiece. Produced over a few years during the sixties and finally released in 1967, Play Time, from its inception was rife with troubles.

Continuing to critique modernity’s encroachment on the individual, Tati sought structures in and around Paris that would be well suited for such a satirical film. The director needed enough open space for his wide shots to take in all of Hulot’s surroundings and its inherent inanity. After figuring an airport and office building as indispensible portions of the storytelling process, Tati figured that public spaces might not actual work when shooting began.

“It was not possible to stop the traffic at Orly airport, nor interfering with drugstores or supermarkets activities. Therefore, we had to create the whole set from scratch. So, I invented it.”

And thus, Tatuville was born. It wasn’t a proper town, obviously, but there were entire buildings constructed replete with power sources, air conditioning and other assorted working accoutrements. Erected on some back lot a studio maintained, even the set building proved problematic after extensive plans had been drafted. There was even a cessation to work at one point due to lack of funds.

In order to finish the film, which eventually bankrupted the production company that Tati was working with, the director mortgaged his home. And when that wasn’t even sufficient, he sold the rights to a few of his films in order to build enough capital. Shooting Play Time ostensibly ruined Tati financially. And while the film was and remains a beautiful success, the emotional toll inflicted on the man probably can’t be aptly explained.

All the trouble Tati went through, though, should point to the import which structures were to have in the film. And if one recalls Mon Oncle, the house prominently featured in that film was basically a character all itself. All the action revolved around it, prompted the action of characters and served as sedentary comic relief – an amazing achievement.

And while that home was built from scratch in much the same way Tativille was, the latter effort was unquestionably more intricate. But that only means that there was the possibility that the structures would work better when shot on film.