§ 173 St.G.B. Blutschande Review: A very stressful day at the registry office

You should probably watch this if you have a soft spot for those old, dusty German dramas where everyone looks like they haven't slept in three days. It is worth your time if you like seeing how people used to handle 'scandalous' topics without being too graphic. If you hate slow-moving silent films where people stare at pieces of paper for a long time, you will definitely want to skip this one. 🎬

Martin Hollmann is just a gardener. He seems like a decent guy who just wants to plant his flowers and live a quiet life. He is married to Hedwig, who is quite a bit older than him. The movie doesn't spend much time on their marriage, because Hedwig is already on her deathbed when things really start moving.

That is where we meet Liesbeth. She is Hedwig’s daughter from a previous marriage. She shows up just as her mom is passing away. It is one of those classic movie moments where two people meet over a dying relative and immediately feel a connection. It feels a bit fast, but that is just how these older movies roll.

Martin brings Liesbeth into the house to be his housekeeper. 🧹 You can tell where this is going. They are about the same age, they both look pretty good in the soft lighting of the 1920s, and they are both lonely. It’s actually kind of sweet for a minute.

They fall in love and Liesbeth gets pregnant. They decide to do the 'right thing' and get married. Everything seems like it’s going to be a happy ending, which is your first clue that things are about to go horribly wrong.

The scene at the registry office is the part that stuck with me. They go in all happy, and then they meet this bailiff. He is the most serious man I have ever seen in a movie. He looks like he eats law books for breakfast. 📕

He drops the bomb on them. Because Martin was married to Liesbeth's mother, they are legally considered family. Even though they aren't blood related, Section 173 of the Criminal Code says it is incest. The way the joy just drains out of their faces is brutal to watch.

It reminds me a bit of the heavy moral weight you see in Hail the Woman. It is that feeling of the world being designed specifically to trip you up.

I noticed a small detail during the scene where Martin is working in the garden earlier. He is so careful with the plants, but he has no idea his own life is about to be pulled up by the roots. It is a bit on the nose, but I liked it anyway.

Olga Tschechowa is in this too. She has such a striking presence on screen. Even when she isn't the main focus, you kind of find yourself looking at her to see how she’s reacting to the mess.

The movie gets really heavy once the legal stuff starts. It stops being a romance and turns into this weird, claustrophobic nightmare. You can almost feel the walls of the courtroom or the office closing in on them.

The pacing is a bit weird. Some parts of the courtship feel like they take forever, and then the legal tragedy happens in a flash. It is not as balanced as something like Three Sinners, which handles its 'scandal' a bit more smoothly.

I did find myself wondering why nobody told them earlier. Like, didn't any of the neighbors or friends know the law? It feels like the kind of thing someone would mention over coffee. 'Hey Martin, nice garden, by the way, don't marry your stepdaughter or you'll go to jail.' ☕

The acting is very theatrical. Lots of hands to the forehead and wide-eyed staring. Max Maximilian as Martin does a lot of heavy lifting with his eyes. You can see the moment he realizes his life is over.

It's not a 'fun' movie. It is more of a 'sit there and feel bad for people' movie. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, maybe try Wine, Women and Sauerkraut instead. This one is strictly for when you want to contemplate the unfairness of the 1920s legal system.

One shot that really stood out was the way the bailiff's shadow falls over the desk. It makes him look like a giant. It’s very German Expressionism lite.

The pregnancy subplot is handled very delicately. You have to pay attention to the dialogue cards and the way Liesbeth holds herself. It’s not like today where they just show a test or a big bump right away. It’s all about the shame and the secret.

I think the movie is actually trying to say the law is stupid. It doesn't feel like it’s judging Martin and Liesbeth for falling in love. It feels like it’s judging the system for being so cold.

It is a strange little film. It feels very specific to its time. I’m glad I watched it, but I don't think I’ll be rushing to see it again anytime soon. It is just too sad. 🥀

Things I Noticed:

• Martin’s gardening hat is actually pretty stylish.
• The registry office looks like a tomb.
• There is a lot of dramatic pointing at documents.
• The ending leaves you feeling a bit hollow.

If you like silent films that deal with social issues, give it a look. Just don't expect a wedding cake and a happy ending. It’s more of a 'prison cell and a long sigh' kind of vibe.