Forza Bastia (2002) Reviews

• Tati's incomplete last film

  robertofig2005-09-04

  This was Tati's last film attempt and, for decades, it curiously remained lost, much like his first film, "Oscar, champion de tenis". In 1978, the relatively obscure Italian football team, Bastia, made it to a first-time finals of the Champion's League, against PSV Eindhoven. Tati was asked by fellow friend, and club Mediterrané founder, Gilberto Trigano, to document the final match in Italy. The film is still somewhat tati-esquire, and concentrates itself more on the outside fiesta of the town's people and nuances of the general euphoria than the game itself, which was actually interrupted by a strong rain that left a mud-covered field. But it was considered a failure, and kept at storage until the director's daughter, Sophie Tatischeff, finished and edited it in 2001, and the different artistic views are easily noticed throughout the picture. A worth-watching film, if you can find it, as are all Tati films; do so with some regards tough, as if you expect it to wear Playtime's shoes, you'll be widely disappointed. It's still much better than Cours du Soir, at least...