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5.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Caravane remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for pre-war European romantic dramas that don't quite know where they're going, you might have a good time here. It’s definitely not for anyone who needs a tight, logical plot because this movie basically runs on vibes and costume changes.
If you like your cinema polished and logical, stay far away. This is a messy, impulsive ride.
Princess Wilma is in a hurry. She needs a husband by midnight, which is a classic trope that feels even more frantic here than usual. She grabs Latzi, a gypsy traveler, and throws money at him to save her inheritance. Honestly, who wouldn't?
The chemistry between them feels forced, but that’s kind of the point. It’s a marriage of convenience, right?
The whole thing starts to unravel when the Countess realizes she’s actually into this Lieutenant de Tokay fellow. It’s a classic square of unrequited love that feels like a soap opera from a different century. One minute everyone is formal and stiff, the next someone is singing or looking longingly at a caravan wagon.
There is a scene in the second act where the lighting gets weirdly dim, and I honestly think someone just forgot to adjust the lamps on set. It’s distracting, but oddly charming.
The movie is way more fun when it stops pretending to be about royal inheritance and just lets the characters be miserable and confused. It feels a bit like watching a draft of a better film, but that's what makes it kind of interesting. It reminds me a little of the chaotic energy in On a jeho sestra, even if they aren't the same animal at all.
Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a decent way to spend a rainy afternoon? Maybe. Just don't go looking for deep life lessons in the wagon wheels.
I left feeling a little dizzy, but not in a bad way. 🎡