DbcultAccessing Vault...
Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
This one, Careers, it's a bit of a trip back. If you're into those old silent films, the kind that make you think about murky morals and desperate choices, then yeah, it's probably worth a look. Folks who appreciate a good, dark drama without a single spoken word, they'll find something here. But if you need snappy dialogue or big action sequences, run away. This ain't for you. 🙅♀️
So, the setup is pretty juicy. We're in French Indochina, and a magistrate, a good upright guy, gets tasked with figuring out who offed his boss. Simple enough, right? Except the boss? Turns out he had this really gross policy. He'd make wives of his subordinates sleep with him if their husbands wanted a leg up. Promotions, you know. Just rotten. 🤢
And the real kicker? Our magistrate, this poor fellow, has no idea his own wife was tangled up in that mess. She was apparently right there in the boss's office when he got killed. The way the movie plays with that secret, that heavy burden she carries, it's pretty gripping. Carmel Myers, as the wife, she really sells that silent anguish. Her eyes just scream it.
There's this moment, early on, where she's just staring into space after the news breaks. It lasts a beat too long, but it works. You feel the weight of what she knows, or what she might know. It’s not about what she says, because, well, silent film. It's all in those strained looks. You almost feel a chill even without sound.
Sôjin Kamiyama as the boss, even in flashbacks, he just has this sneer. It's quick, but it tells you everything you need to know about the kind of guy he was. The film doesn't waste time making him sympathetic. It's like, this guy deserved it. And you kinda go along with that.
The whole Indochina setting, it’s mostly just a backdrop, honestly. It gives it an exotic flavor, but it doesn't really do much. It's not a deep dive into colonialism or anything. It's more about the human drama playing out in this specific, faraway spot. The heat, the uniforms, it’s all just kinda there.
What sticks with me is the magistrate's slow realization, or rather, his slow non-realization. He's so focused on justice, on finding the killer, completely unaware of the poison right at home. The irony is thick. You want to yell at the screen, "Dude, look closer!"
The silent film acting, sometimes it's really over the top, you know? Like, hands clasped to the chest, big gasps. But here, with Myers, it feels earned. It feels like she has to be that expressive because there are no words. Her performance is what carries a lot of the emotional punch. It makes you lean in.
The ending, without giving anything away, it leaves you with a lot to chew on. It's not a neat, tied-up-with-a-bow kind of deal. It feels a bit messy, like life can be. And that's actually good. It doesn't try to resolve everything perfectly.
I think it's one of those films that really benefits from a good score, if you're lucky enough to find a version with one. Without it, some of the tension might just... float away. That's the thing with these old ones. You need that extra layer of mood.
It's not a flawless film, not by a long shot. Some of the scenes with the other subordinates feel a bit like filler, just to establish the boss's reputation more. We get it, he's a creep. But the central dilemma, the wife's secret, that's where it really shines. It’s got that old-school noir vibe, before noir was even really a thing.
A good watch if you're feeling a bit moody and want to see some classic moral quandaries play out. Just be ready for the lack of sound and some very dramatic eyebrows. 😉
IMDb —
1924
Community
Log in to comment.
