The French film Trafic, directed by Jacques Tati, was released in 1971. The movie follows Mr. Hulot, played by Jacques Tati himself, as he tries to showcase his latest invention, a camper car, at an auto show in Amsterdam. Hulot is accompanied by his boss, the pragmatic M. Boulanger, and the company's publicity model, Maria, who also happens to be Hulot's love interest.
The trio sets off from Paris in the camper car, which is laden with a range of advanced features, such as a kitchen, a fold-out table, and a shower. However, their journey quickly becomes fraught with difficulties, from traffic jams to a breakdown of the car's exhaust system. They also run into several eccentric characters along the way, including a mechanic who speaks only in grunts and a group of football supporters who end up stealing the car.
As the journey continues, Hulot's frustrations mount as he struggles to keep the camper car in working order. Meanwhile, his colleagues, Maria and M. Boulanger, grow increasingly disillusioned with the trip, and tensions rise between the trio. Eventually, after a series of misadventures, the group arrives in Amsterdam, but the car is in such a dilapidated state that they are forced to push it into the exhibition hall.
Despite the setbacks, the car proves to be a hit with the public, and Hulot is hailed as a creative genius. However, he soon realizes that the car's success is fleeting and that the real value of the journey was the experiences and connections he made along the way. In the end, he decides to abandon the car and return to Paris, leaving his colleagues to deal with the fallout of the failed exhibition.