Mon Oncle (1958)

Jacques Tati was a genius at using design to demonstrate a point of view.  Here the visuals tell of a conflict between the modern and the traditional.  With clever detail and a sarcastic wit he shows how the modern world is just silly.  Tati's character of the uncle is a man stuck in the past while his sister's family has embraced the modern world.  There's a hilarious bit with a fish fountain that had me rolling and another one on an automatic garage door that seems to make fun of our obsession gadgets.  I mean even the sets are amazing in their ability to make you laugh.   While there's not much of a plot going on you'd think this kind of film would run out of steam.  But it's consistently clever and inspiring in its humorous riff on consumerism and convenience.  Grade: A-