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6.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Cynara remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for pre-code melodrama that doesn't mind wallowing in its own misery, you might find something here to like. If you’re looking for something fast-paced or light, steer clear. This is a movie that really wants you to sit with the bad choices of its protagonist, and it doesn't give you much room to breathe.
Ronald Colman plays this barrister who is basically a decent guy, except for the part where he blows up his perfectly fine marriage for a shop girl. You can see the regret written all over his face before he even does anything, which is kind of a weird choice for the film to make. It’s like he’s mourning his own life while he’s still living it.
The whole thing is told through a flashback, which feels a bit like being trapped in a confession booth with a guy who isn't sure he’s actually sorry. The shop girl, played by Kay Francis, is the real center of gravity here. She’s not some mustache-twirling villain, she’s just a person who caught feelings for someone who was only playing a part.
There is a scene in her apartment that feels so suffocatingly small. You can tell they were trying to capture that feeling of being stuck in a bad situation, and they nailed it. The camera just lingers on the cheap wallpaper for a second too long. It’s one of those weird, specific details that makes the whole thing feel more human, or at least more sad.
It reminds me a bit of the moodiness you find in The Woman of Lies, though this feels a lot more grounded in the actual social fallout. People act like it’s just a story about a guy being dumb, but it’s really about how quickly the law and society turn on you when you stop pretending to be perfect.
I will say, the pacing is a bit of a slog in the middle. There’s a lot of walking into rooms and looking at fireplace mantels while people talk in hushed tones. It’s not exactly thrilling, but it has a rhythm that’s hard to shake off once you’re in it. It’s a heavy watch.
Also, I couldn't help but notice how much everyone’s clothes look like they’re wearing them down. It’s a very gray, dusty looking movie. Not in a bad way—it just feels like a rainy Tuesday in London that never ends. Don't go in expecting a happy ending, or even a fair one.