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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Ariane remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
So, is Ariane worth your time today? If you like those old, quiet movies where the plot is mostly just people staring at each other in fancy rooms, then yes. You’ll probably dig it. If you need things to blow up or people to talk fast, stay away. You will be bored out of your mind. 😴
The whole thing is about this Russian girl, Ariane, who is studying in Paris. She meets this guy, Konstantin. He is way older and basically a professional flirt. He doesn't want anything serious. He tells her this right away.
Ariane is smart, though. Or she thinks she is. She decides to beat him at his own game. She makes up this entire fake life where she is a dangerous woman with tons of ex-boyfriends.
It’s honestly kind of painful to watch her lie. You can see her brain working to come up with the next story. Elisabeth Bergner plays her with these massive, watery eyes. She looks like a kid wearing her mom's high heels.
The guy, Rudolf Forster, has this very stiff way of acting. He looks like he hasn't slept since 1925. He’s supposed to be this charming playboy, but he mostly just looks tired. Really tired.
I noticed this one scene in a cafe. The camera just stays on them for what feels like forever. No music. Just the sound of spoons hitting cups. It’s awkward as hell. But it feels real.
Usually, in these old movies, everything is so dramatic. But here, the big emotional moments are quiet. It’s way different from something like Marizza which feels a bit more traditional in its drama.
There’s a moment where Ariane is looking in a mirror. She’s trying on a hat. She looks at herself and you can see the mask slip for just a second. She hates that she has to lie. It’s a tiny detail, but it stuck with me.
The script was co-written by Carl Mayer. He’s the guy who worked on some of the biggest silent films ever. You can feel his touch in the psychological stuff. He likes to get inside the characters' heads.
Sometimes the pacing is weird. Like, they will spend ten minutes on a conversation about nothing. Then, a huge plot point happens in thirty seconds. It’s a bit lopsided.
It reminds me a little of Kindling in the way it handles social classes, but Ariane is much more focused on the romance. Or the fake romance. Whatever you want to call it.
I kept thinking about the ending. I won't spoil it, but it doesn't feel like a big movie finish. It’s more like a sigh. It’s honest.
One thing that was kind of funny: some of the extras in the background scenes look like they have no idea what they are doing. There is a guy in the opera scene who just stares directly at the camera for a split second. It’s great.
The movie is definitely better than One Embarrassing Night. That one was just a slog. Ariane actually has something to say about how we pretend to be someone else just to get people to like us.
I also liked the way Paris looks here. It’s not the postcard version. It’s a bit dark and rainy. It fits the mood. It’s like the city is as lonely as the people living in it.
The dialogue is simple. No big speeches. Just two people trying to figure out if they actually like each other or if they just like the idea of each other.
Is it a masterpiece? Maybe not. But it’s got a soul. And that’s more than you can say for a lot of movies from that era like Dummies.
I’d say give it a watch on a Tuesday night when you’re feeling a little bit sad. It’ll match your vibe perfectly. 🌧️
Anyway, that’s Ariane. It’s messy and slow and the guy’s mustache is a bit much, but I’m glad I watched it. It feels like a real story about real mistakes.
IMDb 7
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