Bill's many hats and a stolen fake in Das gestohlene Gesicht

Is this worth your time?

If you like old movies where people run around in trench coats and solve crimes with theater makeup, you’ll have a good time. It is perfect for a lazy afternoon when you want something light but slightly weird.

If you need a plot that actually makes sense 100% of the time, you will probably hate this. It’s a bit of a disaster in terms of logic. 🤷‍♂️

The movie kicks off with Lore, an art student in Berlin. Her professor is a total snob who thinks women can't paint anything worthwhile.

Lore gets so fed up that she decides to steal a real Raphael from the gallerie. She doesn't even want the money; she just wants to replace it with her own copy to prove he can't tell the difference.

It’s a bold move. Maybe too bold for someone who doesn't seem to have a getaway plan? 🎨

But then the story gets really messy. Some random criminal steals her fake painting from the museum, thinking it’s the real one.

Suddenly, the police are everywhere. Investigator Keller is on the case, and he looks like he hasn't slept since 1925.

This is where Bill comes in. Bill is Lore’s friend, and his whole thing is being a quick-change artist.

I’m not kidding when I say this guy changes his look like he’s a chameleon on steroids. It reminded me a bit of the identity swaps in Black Is White, but way more frantic.

One second Bill is a waiter, and the next he’s some old man with a cane. You start to wonder if he just carries a suitcase full of fake noses everywhere he goes.

There is a scene in a cafe where he changes behind a menu. It’s so fast it’s actually kind of funny, even if it’s meant to be tense.

The detective, Keller, is constantly just about to catch him. But Bill always has a new hat or a different mustache ready to go. 🥸

The pacing is a little bit wonky. It feels like the movie starts as a serious art drama and then suddenly remembers it wants to be a slapstick comedy.

The gallery scenes have this very bright, flat lighting that makes everything look a bit like a stage play. It lacks the moody shadows you see in something like The Scarlet Shadow.

Lore spends most of the middle section of the movie looking very worried. She wears these amazing 1930s hats that are almost characters themselves.

I noticed one extra in the background of the museum scene who just stares directly into the camera for five seconds. It’s a little distracting once you see it.

The romance between Bill and Lore is... fine? They don't have a ton of chemistry, but they both seem equally stressed out, which is a bond of its own.

There’s a lot of running through doors. So many doors. 🚪

I honestly enjoyed the parts where Bill is just trying to find a place to hide. He ducks into a bathroom and comes out as a different person entirely.

The movie doesn't really explain how he does it so fast. Does he have a wig under his hat? Is he wearing three layers of clothes?

It’s best not to ask these questions. Just go with the flow of the chaos.

The ending feels a bit rushed, like they were running out of film. Everything gets tied up in a neat little bow that feels a bit unearned.

But the journey there is entertaining enough if you like that specific 1930s energy. It’s definitely more fun than As Ye Sow, which is way too slow for its own good.

I liked the music, even if it was a bit too loud during the 'sneaking' scenes. It’s hard to feel like someone is being stealthy when a full orchestra is blaring in the background. 🎺

Is it a masterpiece? No. But it's a good time.

Watch it for Bill’s ridiculous disguises and Lore’s incredible wardrobe. Just don't expect the art heist logic to hold up under any actual scrutiny.