Jour de Fête

(1949)

★ 7.1 IMDb · 253 votes

Genres: Comedy

Year: 1949

Runtime: 86 мин

Country: France

Director: Jacques Tati

Cast: Jacques Tati, Guy Decomble, Paul Frankeur, Santa Relli, Maine Vallée, Roger Rafal, Jacques Beauvais, Delcassan, Alexandre Wirtz, Robert Balpo

Plot

Jour de Fête tells the story of an inept and easily-distracted French mailman who frequently interrupts his duties to converse with the local inhabitants, as well as inspect the traveling fair that has come to his small community. Influenced by too much wine and a newsreel account of rapid transportation methods used by the United States postal system, he goes to hilarious lengths to speed the delivery of mail while aboard his bicycle.

Once a year the fair comes for one day to the little town 'Sainte-Severe-sur-Indre.' All inhabitants are scoffing at François, the postman, what he seems not to recognize. The rising of the flagstaff under his direction nearly leads into a catastrophe - but everybody tells him how important his work is. Sneering up François continues in the evening of the festive day. Made drunk, some 'friends' persuade him to watch a short-movie in a tent. This film is a stunt-show, covered as 'The modern delivery-techniques of the US-post. François takes it serious, not recognizing being teased. Next day, after getting sober in a goods wagon, he reorganizes his own delivery-methods. He has not the equipment, as his ideals in the short-movie have, but using only his bicycle, he makes good, funny progresses.