‘Jour de fête’, directed by Jacques Tati in 1949, is a French comedy written, directed and starring the creator of Monsieur Hulot. In this, his directorial debut, Tati plays François, a postman in a small rural village in France. François is bumbling and easily distracted by drink and socialising with his fellow villagers. Inspired by the American troops stationed in the village, François decides to increase his efficiency, but his attempts to do so result in anarchy and mishaps. In the meantime, a carnival has arrived in the village square, and the outsiders cause friction amongst the village. The highlight of this film is an extended sequence showing Tati on a bicycle delivering post. François races through the country lanes losing his bike, having near misses with motor vehicles and releasing his letters in unusual ways. The inventiveness here rivals Buster Keaton’s ‘The General’, but Tati adds another layer beyond the set-piece stunts. The village in the film becomes almost another character, and certainly the inhabitants including an elderly woman who acts as a chorus to the narrative make the story and the atmosphere of the film much richer than it should be. There is a nostalgia in this film, perfectly pitched as an antidote for the recent occupation of France during the Second World War, but this nostalgia isn’t forced, it is relayed simply through the focus on village life and on the eccentric characters.

Would I recommend it? Yes – on the surface it’s a simple movie showcasing Tati’s physical comedy, but underneath it is a powerful reaction against the trauma of the Vichy government and the Nazi occupation. It’s my favourite Tati movie. Watch in a triple bill with ‘The General’ for the comedy, and ‘Les Enfants du Paradis’ for another attempt to combat the corruption of the war.