Villa Mon Rêve(1960)

Villa Mon Rêve is a 1960 short film directed by Albert Champeaux that introduces Mr Schmtz, a bumbling con artist with a gift for disguise. The film follows his first failed scheme in a series of comedic capers that would span four shorts. Distributed internationally by Rank, Villa Mon Rêve won acclaim at festivals including Cork, Venice, and Acapulco. Pierre Watrin's striking set design and the film's inventive animation give it a surprisingly modern sensibility that has aged remarkably well. Broadcast in 1961 as a cinema program opener, the film's visual sophistication earned it selection by France's Antenne2 as a showcase piece during the country's transition to color television.