Review of Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953) by Augustine H — 05 Aug 2013

This is a film that I need to revisit. I was expecting a screwball comedy (later I found out that I was in the same shoes as Ebert). After the initial ten minutes, I did not laugh out loud at the future humor, but I was amused by the portrayal of the character and the vacation town.

This is a film with no plot. You must come to it with no purpose other than to enjoy the images that it sets forth (in a way, it is a clear precursor to Robert Altman's Mash and Nashville). The only point is to explore the encounter of diverse people as they converge on a vacation town near the beach.

They all stay at a specific hotel, eat together, go to the beach and spend their evenings together in the commons area of the hotel. After reflecting on my experience and reading Ebert's review, I can relate to the nostalgic and impressionable aspects of the film.

Scenes are carefully put together and memorable. It is not a film that one can easily forget, but for me, it is a film that I will need to revisit. I enjoyed the initial sequence as everyone, literally everyone in the city, heads out for a vacation at the same time including Hulot in his clunker.

I also enjoyed the sequence where Hulot paints his kayak and the tides play a role in the development of the scene. Hulot eating his food next to another guest of the hotel was amusing. One can find some fun scenes to enjoy, but it can be challenging for some viewers the first time around, including me.