Tatis herrliche Zeiten

Tatis herrliche Zeiten ist purer filmischer Wahnsinn, der kein Blatt vor den Mund nimmt, und so ist es ziemlich verständlich, dass der Film selbst nicht für alle Zuschauer geeignet ist... mich eingeschlossen. Während des gesamten Verlaufs der Handlung konnte ich mir keine feste Meinung über das, was ich sah, bilden, was ziemlich ärgerlich war. Einige Motive haben mir hier sehr gut gefallen - "Schaufenster", "Improvisation mit offenen Türen" oder "Spiel mit Spiegelungen im Glas". Kurzum, ein Film, der mich trotz seiner Dynamik sehr gelangweilt hat. (24.11.2011)

A film where everything happens very quickly and chaotically, but at the same time nothing happens – just like in the modern, impersonal times it satirically describes. That the work with sound perspective is amazing (as it is) and that every formal choice matches to perfection Tati's symbolic intentions is not enough to make the film a mega-fun and inspiring classic. There are some really great ideas, and the restaurant scene is certainly good, but I can't shake the feeling that it's disproportionately drawn out, and that if I were to film me and my friends' nightlife, the mise-en-scène would have offered far greater and more numerous gems to laugh at, in every sense… (27.01.2017)

Jacques Tati's films are so unique that you feel like you're watching someone who understood the world in such a singular way that either you tune into his wavelength or you don't. In this case, it's a film that is and isn't a slapstick, and it is and isn't a comedy. The portrayal of society in this film isn't far from reality, which can be quite chilling at times. (10.06.2015)