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6.8/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.8/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Al-khatib nimrah talatach remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you are the kind of person who enjoys tracking down obscure, dusty corners of film history. If you need pacing, modern dialogue, or even a plot that doesn't feel like it was dropped in a blender, you will probably hate this. But, if you like seeing how people were putting together dramas in the early 20th century without all the digital crutches we have now, it is kind of neat.
The whole thing feels like it was filmed in someone’s living room, or at least a very small backyard. It reminds me a bit of the raw, experimental energy you see in early shorts like Kino-pravda no. 19 - Chernoe more - Ledovityi okean - Moskva, though obviously in a completely different genre.
There is this moment where the acting gets so theatrical that it feels like the actors are trying to communicate with someone in the back row of a stadium. It is not subtle. At all. 🎭
I found myself staring at the background furniture more than the plot. You can see the seams of the sets. You can almost smell the dust on the props. It’s grounded, but in a way that feels unintentional.
It’s not as polished as The Three Musketeers, but it has a local flavor that is hard to shake off. It’s got that slightly imperfect rhythm where you realize the director is just figuring it out as he goes.
Some of the reaction shots linger for about five seconds too long. It starts to feel like the actors forgot they were being filmed. I actually liked that part. It felt human.
If you have seen The Woman and the Puppet, you might appreciate the shift in tone here. This isn't trying to be an epic. It’s just trying to be a story about a guy who is probably a disaster.
I wouldn't call this a masterpiece, but it’s definitely a time capsule. Just don't go in expecting a slick production. It’s messy, it’s old, and it’s weirdly endearing.