French painter Raoul Dufy (1877-1953) is perhaps best known for his colourful and joyful paintings of people at play: whether it is the great English social occasions such as Royal Ascot and the Henley Regatta, the yachts and bathers of Deauville, or the casinos and palm-fringed promenades of Nice and Cannes.

Dufy was also one of the most adventurous painters of his time - illustrated by the variety of his ceramics, wallhangings and furniture designs. Best-known of all are the exquisite dress fabric designs he created for the French couturier Paul Poiret in the 1920s, some of which are still being produced at the same print works in Lyons.

This film, with contributions from distinguished critics in both England and France and interviews with some of the patrons, dealers and models who knew Dufy personally, puts the case that Dufy was one of the finest draughtsmen of the 20th century, a designer whose influence is still much in evidence today and a painter of genius to rank alongside Matisse and Léger.