Circulez! Is a Messy, Chaotic Time Capsule

Look, if you want a movie that makes sense, Circulez! is probably going to give you a headache. It’s a loud, frantic little thing that feels like it was filmed while everyone involved had just finished three espressos too many. You should watch this if you enjoy watching people just sort of… bustle. If you need a tight script or, I don’t know, an actual reason for characters to be acting this way, you’re going to be annoyed within ten minutes. ☕

The whole movie feels like a traffic jam that turned into a shouting match. There’s a lot of running, a lot of frantic gesturing, and honestly, half the time I couldn't tell who was mad at who. It reminded me a bit of the pacing in The Merry Widow, but with way less ballroom elegance and way more people bumping into furniture.

There’s this one scene where a character just stands by a doorway for what feels like a week. Why? I have no idea. It wasn't funny, and it wasn't dramatic, but they just kept that shot going. It’s the kind of imperfect, weird choice that makes me think nobody was really checking the monitor on set. 🎞️

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Circulez! (1931) through its definitive frames.

Pierre Brasseur is in this, and he’s clearly doing his best to keep the energy up, even when the scene is falling apart around him. He’s got this look on his face like he’s trying to remember if he left the oven on back at home. It’s genuinely charming in a weird way.

Bits and bobs I noticed:

• The background extras in the street scenes are clearly just staring at the camera.
• The sound mixing is… well, it exists. Sometimes the voices just cut out.
• I think one of the actors trips over his own feet, and they just decided to keep it in.
• There is a distinct lack of plot, which is almost impressive if you think about it.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely even a coherent story. But there’s something about the way these old French comedies just throw everything at the wall to see what sticks. It’s a bit like watching Le chiffonnier de Paris, if that film had been filmed on a sugar high and stripped of all its social commentary.

Anyway, I probably wouldn't watch it twice. But for one rainy afternoon? Sure. Why not. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything. 🤷‍♂️