Through films, individuals are made aware of everything that occurs in the world and are exposed to it all. Even if individuals participate in these events, movies serve as a constant reminder of what people are missing due to their enhanced performances and empathetic gestures. Since the beginning of the history of film art, this has been the situation. One of the best examples of this is the Jacques Tati–starring and –directed 1958 film “Mon Oncle.”
“Mon Oncle” presents us with two distinct alternate universes. In a way, the first of these is a modernized-universe. Electronic machinery is constantly buzzing, fluorescent lighting that is brutally bright, and a metallic fish that spits out blue liquid for the neighbors. There is always a designed separation. An artificial world. All of this contemporary technology aims to improve the quality of living.
The main character of the movie's home and his society's surroundings are introduced as the second alternate universe. More hospitable and conventional. A culture where people do not give any thought about a metal fish. A world where people use simple pranks to brighten up and variety each other's monotonous existences. All that counts is its presence and basic function. The harmony of a simple life is what is most obvious in this world
The main plot of the film is the comedy of the lead character, Mr. Hulot, who is stuck between these two worlds. When Mr. Hulot leaves his comfortable apartment and enters his sister's home, the impacts of industrialization start to become apparent. Mr. Hulot always has an unsteady gait, unlike his sister, who can step on the stones in her garden with ease. He pushes the iconic Coquetier chair out of the way when he visits this mechanic family's home, where they regularly use it, and he settles into a more comfortable chair. He is forced to live in a setting with which he is fundamentally incompatible, but he never fails to show interest in this mechanical residency.
The movie demonstrates the disparity between these two worlds, from the guest to the house staff, demonstrating that Mr. Hulot is not the only one who feels uneasy in this setting. In reality, we are taught that there is a categorical difference between people who deserve mechanized fish and those who do not. In some scenes, we see that even those who deserve mechanical fish are lost in these social rules. Only dogs and children are able to freely transition between these two worlds without feeling or being aware of this discrepancy. Children, in a way, reject traditional or industrial life while living their lives simply by cutting ties to their childhood with labeled locations.
As a result, “Mon Oncle” presents us with the mechanization of both economics and society, demonstrating the early effects of the industrial era. This comedy-based movie conveys the facts to us while also conveying a variety of messages, from a mechanical fish to a bird singing as the sun rises. Additionally, the freedom with which kids and dogs move between these two worlds demonstrates how these designated lives are the results of society.
Comments