Ghent Film Festival pays tribute to Tati in an exceptional exhibition

Tati once said: "I want the film to start when you leave the cinema." He would appreciate this unusual exhibition therefore. Never before has the unique vision of Tati been so tangible for the public. Tati fans will be able to get their fill of original pieces and reproductions: the office set for PlayTime, the design interior of Villa Arpel, the bike of François the postman in Jour de Fête, Tati's legendary pipe in XL format and a multitude of hitherto unseen photos, posters, props, costumes, models and storyboards. For those who are less familiar with the works of Tati, the exhibition provides a fun and colourful setting for discovering the humour and aesthetics of this exceptional director. All in all the exhibition will feature objects displayed in a surface area of more than 500m2 and will show dozens of film clips. The 'JACQUES TATI' exhibition is a creation of the Cinemathèque Française in collaboration with Les Films de Mon Oncle and is designed by Macha Makeïeff. Curators are Macha Makeïeff and Stéphane Goudet. Ghent is the second city after Paris where the exhibition will be shown. The original concept will be adapted for Ghent to fit in with the stunning location of the Caermersklooster. A 310-page catalogue entitled 'Deux Temps, Trois Mouvements' will be produced for the exhibition. With this exhibition the Province of East Flanders continues the tradition of showcasing an important body of work associated with the Film Festival. The World of Tati Jacques Tati, with six features to his name over a period of more than 20 years, was not the most prolific director, but he was without a doubt one of the most inventive. As director and actor, he created a world that still forms part of our collective memory. The hilarious stunts of François the postman in Jour de Fête (1949) marked the beginning of Tati's career. The sharp, but comic criticism of modernism appeared in all his following films. In Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953), Mon Oncle (1958), PlayTime (1967) and Trafic (1971) the illustrious character of Monsieur Hulot was the perfect personification of the characteristic slapstick humour of Tati. In the film Parade (1974) he exchanged Monsieur Hulot for Monsieur Loyal, a circus artist in the company of jugglers, magicians and acrobats. Tati the Magician 2010 will be a hugely celebratory year for fans of Jacques Tati, because on 16 June, L'illusionniste by Sylvain Chomet, the director of Les Triplettes de Belleville, was released in cinemas. The story of this animated feature is based on an unpublished scenario by Jacques Tati. L'illusionniste tells the tale of a dying breed of stage entertainer whose thunder is being stolen by emerging rock stars. Forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theaters, garden parties and bars, he meets a young fan who changes his life forever. Practical information Dates: 15/10/2010 - 16/01/2011 Location: Caermersklooster - Provincial Cultural Centre Vrouwebroersstraat 6, 9000 Ghent Tel.: +32 (0)9 269 29 10. Open every day from 10h00 to 17h00 except for Monday. Closed on 25 December and 1 January. Tickets: Tickets cost €8 or €6 (discounted rate). Discounted rate for people under 26, job seekers, Knack Club members, over 60s, holders of a teacher's card or a museum pass. B-Excursion: Train + Tram + Entry Available at any SNCB-station Reservations for guided tours and groups can be made via npo Gandante (www.gandante.be, +32 (0)9 375 31 61) Information about exclusive soirées via the Ghent Film Festival (astrid@filmfestival.be, +32 (0)9 242 80 70)