Monsieur François Hulot

Monsieur Hulot here is a composite of several characters played by French Actor and Director Jacque Tati. Hulot was never given a first name, while another character of his "Francois", was never given a last name. The two have thus been composited, along with several short films in which his character is not named. His films were years apart, largely due to him doing it for the Art and not for money, waiting until he had a good idea. As such it becomes easier to make guesses as to how the character can have different jobs within the years apart between each installment.

## **Biography**

Hulot was presumably born in 1907 (same year as his Actor and creator).

### ***Gai dimanche! (**Fun Sunday*) -1935

Hulot and his friend Rhum were a pair of down-and-outs who tried to generate funds by providing an impromptu leisure tour in a rickety bus they wrangled use of for free.

He fought in World War II (in *Playtime*, several people recognize him from the Army claiming to be old friends). This means he was likely part of the French resistance.

### ***Jour de fête*** (*The Big Day*)-1949

On a public holiday, a young boy watches a travelling fair arrive in his village of Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre. Among the locals is François Hulot, the amiable and bumbling mailman, who everybody likes but nobody takes seriously. Marcel and Roger, the two men running the fair, make him their butt and get him drunk. In the cinema tent, people watch a spoof documentary that contrasts the unbelievable efficiency of the US post office with the antiquated French post office. They decide that François must get up to date and, although he only has a bicycle, must start using transatlantic dash in his delivery. In the end, exhausted by his frantic efforts, he stops to help a family pitchfork their new-mown hay into a horse-drawn cart, while the young boy completes the deliveries on François's route.

### ***Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (***Mr.Hulot's Holiday)-1953

Monsieur Hulot joined the "newly emerging holiday-taking classes" for a summer vacation at a modest seaside resort. He runs into French political and economic classes, from chubby capitalists and self-important Spottsist intellectuals to petty proprietors and drab dilettantes, most of whom find it nearly impossible to free themselves, even temporarily, from their rigid social roles in order to relax and enjoy life.

### ***Mon Oncle***(My Uncle)-1958

M. Hulot was the dreamy, impractical, and adored uncle of nine-year-old Gérard Arpel, who lived with his materialistic parents, M. and Mme. Arpel, in an ultra-modern geometric house and garden, Villa Arpel, in a new suburb of Paris, situated just beyond the crumbling stone buildings of the old neighborhoods of the city. Gérard's parents are entrenched in a machine-like existence of work, fixed gender roles, the acquisition of status through possessions, and conspicuous displays to impress guests, such as the fish-shaped fountain at the center of the garden that Mme. Arpel activates only for important visitors.

Each element of Villa Arpel is stylistically rather than functionally designed, creating an environment completely indifferent to the comfort, or lack of comfort, of its occupants. From inconveniently-located stepping stones, to difficult-to-sit-on furniture, to a kitchen filled with deafeningly loud appliances, every facet of Villa Arpel emphasizes the impracticality of a dedication to superficial aesthetics and electrical gadgets over the necessities of daily living.

Despite the superficial beauty of its modern design, the Arpels' home is entirely impersonal, as are the Arpels themselves. In fact, M. and Mme. Arpel have completely subordinated their individuality to maintain their social position and their shiny new possessions. M. Arpel's automatonic workplace, *Plastac* is filled with monochromatic shades and cloudy days.

By contrast, Monsieur Hulot lives in an old and run-down city district. He is unemployed, and gets around town either on foot or on a *VéloSoleX* motorized bicycle. Gérard, utterly bored by the sterility and monotony of his life with his parents, fastens himself to his uncle at every opportunity. Hulot, little more than a child himself at times, is completely at home with Gérard, but also completely ineffectual at controlling his horseplay with his school friends, who take delight in tormenting adults with practical jokes. Exasperated at their relative's perceived immaturity, the Arpels soon scheme to saddle him with the twin yokes of family and business responsibilities. These attempts failed and he ended up leaving. Security footage of Hulot's antics were watched and found amusing, resulting in the creation of a film based on the footage. *My Uncle* (This is due to the film canonically existing in *The Illusionist*).

### **The Illusionist-**1959

In 1959 Paris, Hulot, now an out-of-work illusionist packed his belongings, including an ill-tempered rabbit, and moved to London. Unable to compete with modern entertainment, such as rock and roll, he plied his trade at smaller gatherings in bars, cafés, and parties. He accepted the invitation of a drunken party patron to visit a remote Scottish island, where he entertained the locals. Staying in a room above the pub, he met a girl, Alice, who was captivated by his illusions and kindness, including a gift of red shoes.

Alice believed the downtrodden performer possessed genuine magical powers, and followed him to Edinburgh, where he performed at a modest theatre. They shared a room in a run-down guest house favoured by other fading performers. The illusionist sleeped on a couch and the girl kept busy by cleaning and cooking food that she shared with the neighbours. The girl's affections even tamed the rabbit, but the illusionist's increasingly meagre wages, spent on gifts for Alice, lead him to pawn his magic kit and secretly take on demeaning jobs.

Alice attracted the affection of a handsome young man. After the illusionist saw them walking together, he left her with money and a note stating, "**MAGICIANS DO NOT EXIST**" (what this means is unclear, but it might have meant that Magic was real and so the illusionary nature of Magicians was a facade). He also released the rabbit on Arthur's Seat, which soon met other rabbits. As Alice moved in with her boyfriend, the illusionist departed on a train, where he declined an opportunity to perform a magic trick for a child.

### **Playtime**-1967

Mr.Hulot went to a Job interview in the industrial part of Paris. He got the job, which was to host a mime school (*Cours du Soir,* Evening Classes) (the actual film leaves it vague over whether or not he got the job as the actual interview is not shown).

### **Trafic**-1971

Hulot had gotten another job as a bumbling automobile designer who works for Altra, a Paris auto plant. Along with a truck driver and Maria, a publicity agent, he takes a new camper-car of his design to an auto show in Amsterdam. On the way there, they encounter various obstacles: getting impounded by Dutch customs guards, a car accident, and an inefficient mechanic. He is fired when the delivery of a new automobile arrives late.

### **Parade**-1974

Mr.Hulot had by this point become the host of a circus that was held in multiple countries. A performance in Sweden was recorded this year.

Mr.Hulot likely passed away in 1982 (same year as his actor and creator Jacque Tati).