Born in 1928, Pierre Étaix was a clown, filmmaker, designer, comedian,
magician, graphic designer, musician, director, stage designer, mime,
television personality, poet … He was heir to the great masters of
slapstick – Chaplin and Keaton. He got into directing with his friend Jean-Claude Carrière in the early 60s.
Of Dutch and Russian origin, Jacques Tati, previously worked as a framer. It was at the Racing Club where he played rugby, that his comedic talent became apparent. An admirer of American burlesque films, he co-directed a series of short films, and made his acting debut in 1947 with his first feature film “Celebration Day”. Tati’s work was revered by American critics. He died in 1982.
Extended bios
Born in 1928, Pierre Étaix was a clown, filmmaker, designer, comedian,
magician, graphic designer, musician, director, stage designer, mime,
television personality, poet … He was heir to the great masters of
slapstick – Chaplin and Keaton. With his wife Annie Fratellini, Étaix founded the National Circus School – the first ever French state circus school. He got into directing with his friend Jean-Claude Carrière in the early ’60s. They worked together for ten years. Notably, they created the first Omnimax format feature film for La Géode at La Villette in 1989.
Following massive legal complications, their films would then disappear
from screens for almost 20 years, prompting some big names in cinema like
Woody Allen, to rally around and express their discontent. Thousands of
people signed a petition calling for the film’s re-release – a feat which
was finally realized very recently.
Of Dutch and Russian origin, Jacques Tati, born Tatischeff, previously
worked as a framer. It was at the Racing Club where he played rugby, that
his comedic talent became apparent. He would organise sport-themed comic
mime shows in venues around Paris, including the Lido. An admirer of
American burlesque films, he co-directed a series of short films, and made
his acting debut in 1947 with his first feature film “Celebration Day”. He
received an Award for directing at the Venice Biennale in 1949. Tati
created a burlesque work where he shot the dehumanized world which
surrounded him, in an innovative style shot on 70 mm. He built stylized
sets, making them his primary focus. He was revered by American critics
and praised by Truffaut. Nevertheless, financial difficulties forced him
to mortgage his property in 1967. In 1974, his production company Specta
Films went bankrupt. In 1972 he directed the TV movie “Parade” – but it was
never released in theaters. In 1977 he received an honorary Cesar. Tati died in 1982.
