Introduction to Jacques Tati: ‘Gai dimanche’, roughly translated to ‘Fun Sunday’ or ‘Lively Sunday’ in english, is Jacques Tati’s earlier short films. Although he co-directed with Jacques Berr, Tati also co-wrote and stars in it too. It’s only 23 minutes long, and with that amount of time, especially in 1935, Berr and Tati did a wonderful job in conveying comedy with tragedy confidently.
In Gain dimanche, Jacques Tati and his friend, Rhum, are impecunious yet somewhat charming young men who are seeking ways to generate money, and by doing so they created a makeshift bus tour using a dilapidated automobile, and so, hilarity ensues. Many of the gags and humor comes from visual comedy, and like Tati’s predecessors (and peers), Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, Tati and Rhum created a world with certain specific rules for their playground of sorts, and what is captured on celluloid is a mixture of great comedic timing and the subtle use of dialogue. Gai dimanche is certainly a wonderful timeless short film for the times.
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