Der Etappenhase: A bizarre comedy about war and cat stew

Is it worth your time?

Honestly? Only if you are a completionist of mid-30s German cinema or have a weirdly high tolerance for situational slapstick that feels like it’s been sitting in a cellar for eighty years. If you want something light and don't mind the fact that the humor is older than your grandparents, you might find a chuckle or two. If you hate slow-burn pacing and sub-titles that feel like they're working overtime to explain jokes that don't really land anymore, skip it.

The whole premise is essentially a long, drawn-out prank involving a cat that gets cooked into a stew. It’s the kind of dark, weird comedy that feels oddly casual given the backdrop of WWI. You have to wonder what the mood in the room was when they were filming this, knowing that the German military would be back in those same French towns not long after.

The rabbit that wasn't

The centerpiece of the mess is Günther Lüders, who spends most of his time looking frustrated while trying to navigate the petty ego of his Major. The rabbit hunting scene is the peak of the movie's energy. It’s shot with that flat, stagey look that makes everything feel like a play that just happened to be filmed.

The moment the Major forces the soldier to eat the 'cat-stew' is supposed to be funny, I guess. It mostly just felt uncomfortable. It’s that specific brand of mean-spirited officer humor that doesn't age well.

• Leny Marenbach and Charlotte Daubert are mostly just there to look nice, which is a shame because they have more charisma than half the guys in uniform.
• The dialogue moves at the speed of a parade march.
• The cat-stew plot point is one of those things you keep waiting to be resolved, but the movie just lets it sit there.

I couldn't help but compare it to other comedies of the era, like Oh, What a Man! or the more frantic energy found in Chasing Husbands. This one feels much more rigid. It lacks that spark. It’s very much a product of its studio, Forum Film Company, and it shows.

There’s a weird lingering feeling throughout the film. You’re watching these guys lollygagging around a captured town, and you just know the reality of the war was so much grimmer. It’s a strange juxtaposition. Almost like the movie is trying to convince itself that the war is just a backdrop for a sitcom. It doesn't quite work.

If you're looking for actual substance, you won't find it here. But if you want a bizarre time capsule that feels completely disconnected from reality, well, here you go. 🐈‍⬛