Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Mon Oncle" or "My Uncle, Mr. Hulot" or "My Uncle" or "Mio zio" or "O Meu Tio" )

 

directed by Jacques Tati
France 1958

Of all the films by Tati, “Mon oncle” is my favorite. More than that, it is the film which influenced my entire view on cinema. I was only eight, when I by mistake bought a ticket for “Mon oncle” instead of some other film, and for the first hour, I had no idea what I was watching, then suddenly, during the garden-party sequence, I began laughing like never before. I had discovered Tati.

David Kehr calls “Mon oncle” a transitional film, between Tati’s fame as Hulot and the ideas of “Playtime”. Hulot is not as central as in “Les Vacance de Mr Hulot”, nor is the films as idyllic French in style, and, we now can say thanks to the restoration of “Jour de Fete”, Tati again used colours, but this time more to underline the graphic design of the scene. But all that and Tati's comedy techniques aside, “Mon oncle” is a film with heart. It remains the only film by Tati where people have emotions and love each other from the heart. Opposite to it, all his other films are almost mechanical. In the final scene, where Gerard and his, up until this point, estranged father, by accident make a man walk into a lamppost, Gerard instinctively grabs his fathers hand, a physical contact neither of them prior had experienced, and like that, the relationship between father and son is re-established. Few directors can convey such a theme with so little.

Henrik Sylow

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 10th, 1958

Reviews                     More Reviews                  DVD Reviews

 Comparison:

The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL vs. Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL vs. BFI (Dual Format)  - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 Big thanks to Henrik Sylow and for the DVD Screen Caps!

1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

The Criterion Collection

Region 0 - NTSC

BFI
Region 0 - PAL
Atlantic Film
Region 2 - PAL
BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

The individual release is also available the BFI's The Jacques Tati Collection which includes Jour de fête / Les Vacances de M. Hulot / Mon Oncle / Playtime and Parade.

Runtime 1:55:48 1:51:16 1:50:55 1:55:55.949
Video

1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.22 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.97 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.90 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,122,434,616 bytes

Feature: 23,077,373,952 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111)

 

Bitrate:

BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection)

 

Bitrate:

 

Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection)

 

Bitrate:

 

Blu-ray

 

Audio French (Dolby Digital 1.0)

French (Dolby Digital 1.0)

French (Dolby Digital 2.0)

LPCM Audio French 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English, None English, None Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: The Criterion Collection

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Terry Jones intro (5:10)
• L'École des facteurs (15:04)
• Liner notes by Matt Zoller Seitz (insert)

DVD Release Date: January 6th, 2004
Keep Case

Chapters 27
 

Release Information:
Studio: BFI

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Original trailer and trailers for Playtime and Les Vacances de M. Hulot
• Insert with notes and director's biography by film historian Philip Kemp

DVD Release Date: November 29th, 2004
Keep Case (Individual Release)/Slim Case (Box Set Edition)

Chapters 12

Release Information:
Studio: Atlantic Film

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Soigne ton gauche (1936 / 11:54)
• L'École des facteurs (1947 / 14:26)
• Cours du soir (1967 / 26:31)
• Jacques Tati biography (text)

DVD Release Date: May 23rd, 2005
Keep Case

Chapters 16

Release Information:
Studio: BFI

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,122,434,616 bytes

Feature: 23,077,373,952 bytes

Video Bitrate: 22.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• My Uncle (Jacques Tati, 1984): the English version of Mon Oncle shot simultaneously
• Mon Oncle trailer (DVD only)
• Fully illustrated booklet with film notes and credits
 

Blu-ray Release Date: October 29th, 2012
Transparent Blu-ray case

Chapters 10

 

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.

NOTE: Criterion's Complete Jacques Tati Blu-ray Collection is compared/reviewed HERE!

 

ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (October 2012): BFI's new 1080P transfer show Tati's Mon Oncle to appear with a darker cast than the SD rendering with prominence in grey/green. Colors shift and seem more correct to me (red dress and ball in the first set of captures) although I can't say with any definitive knowledge. It looks quite good in-motion and much more film-like than I have ever seen. The audio is via a linear PCM with some depth. It also sounds improved. There are optional subtitles on the region 'B'-locked disc.

 

This Blu-ray also offer the 1984-compiled English version of Mon Oncle - supposedly shot simultaneously and transferred in 1080P There are no extras on the dual-layered Blu-ray but the DVD has a Mon Oncle trailer as well as both features and the package contains an illustrated booklet with film notes and credits.

 

What a delightful experience revisiting Tati's film looking so different. Certainly those who enjoy Tati will thoroughly enjoy this new Blu-ray

 - Gary Tooze

***

Addition: The 2004 BFI edition of Mon oncle has recently been rereleased as part of their Jacques Tati Collection along with Jour de fête / Les Vacances de M. Hulot / Mon Oncle / Playtime and Parade. The only changes that the BFI made with this version is the keep case has been turned into a slim case and the individual booklets have been collected into one and some new artwork added to it. Unfortunately, the visuals have proved to be a problem for past release of Mon oncle, and the BFI release is no exception. While it lacks the excessive grain, combing, and cropping issues of the Criterion and it doesn't have the edge-enhancement of the Atlantic, it suffers from a notable softness in comparison with the other two releases. The sound on the BFI is quite good, and I would guess is about the same as the other two editions. Unlike the Atlantic, this one has English subs, and much better looking ones than the Criterion's. The extras here are rather limited, lacking the shorts of the other two discs. Instead we get three Tati trailers and a typically insightful booklet. If you're looking to buy the disc individually, then you'll probably want to go with the Criterion (unless you don't need the English subs, in which case the Atlantic is a decent choice). However, since the BFI also can be purchased with four other Tati films at a very reasonable price, those looking to buy in bulk should go this route. Either way, it's certainly recommended.

 - Brian Montgomery

About Criterion
The Criterion image is marginally overscanned ~1% versus Atlantic, and has 2% cropping of the top, which again may be contributed to the scan.

The most notable difference is, that Criterion is very grainy versus a very smooth Atlantic image. Criterion is not sharper in detail, even though it looks that way, but zooming in reveals almost identical patterns, but the many "grains" give more contour.

Artifacts-wise, Criterion has lesser, being 50% less compressed than Atlantic, which basically is a DVD5 (films takes up 4.25 Gig on the dual layered disc), but Criterion still has its share of edge enhancements and halos. It is not that superior an image.

A problem which recently also has been identified on other Criterion DVDs is a combing-flaw in the first frame on chapter change. While chapters aren't identical, there is no such error on Atlantic.

About Atlantic
The same transfer as the Finnish Future DVD (see Playtime and Jour de Fete reviews), being a DVD5, it displays edge enhancements, color banding and macro blocking, but even so, the transfer isn't all that bad. Details are sharp and colors are very true to what I recall of it in the theatres.

The extra material, as on all the five DVDs in the collection, consists of three Tati short films: "Soigne ton gauche" from 1936, "L'École des facteurs" from 1947 and "Cours du soir" from 1967. The quality of these shorts is surprisingly good, especially "Soigne ton gauche" surprised me, being the oldest, but looks the best - great contrast and sharp details.

 - Henrik Sylow

 


Menus
(The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)


 

 

BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 


 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures

 

1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

Subtitle Sample

 


1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


1) The Criterion Collection (Spine # 111) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) BFI (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Atlantic Film (The Jacques Tati Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD

4) BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

Criterion interlacing during chapter change (first frame)

 


 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-ray

Extras: Blu-ray

 
Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

The Criterion Collection

Region 0 - NTSC

BFI
Region 0 - PAL
Atlantic Film
Region 2 - PAL
BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

The individual release is also available the BFI's The Jacques Tati Collection which includes Jour de fête / Les Vacances de M. Hulot / Mon Oncle / Playtime and Parade.


 

 




Search DVDBeaver
S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!