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6.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Das Lied der Sonne remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you're in the mood for something breezy and honestly a little bit ridiculous, sure. You should watch Das Lied der Sonne if you enjoy classic romantic tropes where someone lies about their job for an entire vacation. You will probably hate it if you need your movies to have a tight plot or logic that holds up for more than five minutes.
Friedel is just so earnest. It’s actually kind of painful watching her chase after this tenor, only to end up with Paladino. The moment she confuses the lawyer for the singer is the pivot point for the whole thing. It’s funny because, like in The Forged Bride, the whole story basically falls apart if anyone just asks a simple follow-up question. But nobody does!
Honestly, half the fun is just watching them walk around. There’s a specific scene where they are just wandering, and the background extras look like they are having a better time than the leads. The rhythm of the movie is weirdly slow at times. It just stops to listen to music or look at a fountain.
Vittorio De Sica is in this, which feels like a strange relic when you think about the rest of his career. He’s doing his best to sell the lawyer act. Sometimes he’s so charming you forget he’s basically catfishing this poor woman. It’s messy.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not even trying to be one. It’s just a sweet, slightly confused little film that exists. Kind of reminds me of the vibe in Lucky Star, where you just go with the flow because arguing with the plot is a waste of energy.
The pacing definitely lags toward the end. I checked my phone twice. Once just to see if the movie was almost over. It wasn't. But hey, it’s a decent way to spend a rainy afternoon if you just want to turn your brain off and look at old-fashioned romance. 🏛️