Der Herr Bürovorsteher: A Dusty Office Trip

Is this for you?

If you have a weird itch to see black-and-white office politics from the old days, you’ll probably have a decent time. If you need pacing faster than a snail crawling through a typewriter ribbon, skip it. This is definitely for the crowd that likes their comedy served with a side of stiff collars and hurt feelings.

I wasn't sure what to expect going in. Most of these older German films have a way of feeling like a play that forgot to leave the stage. Der Herr Bürovorsteher doesn't break that mold, but it has this grumpy, stubborn charm.

The whole thing revolves around the office manager, who seems to think his desk is the literal center of the universe. Watching him try to keep control while everyone else is clearly just waiting for five o'clock is... well, it’s relatable. Even today. 🙄

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Der Herr Bürovorsteher (1931) through its definitive frames.

Notes from the cubicle

• The way they handle paper files looks exhausting. I don't miss that at all.
• There is a scene involving a chair that lasts way too long. It’s supposed to be funny, but it just felt like the actor was tired.
• The background extras in the office scenes are doing way too much work to look busy.

It’s not as polished as something like The Lonely Woman, but it has a messy energy that I actually kinda liked. It doesn't try to be profound. It just wants to show you a guy who takes himself way too seriously, and it succeeds at that without needing a big budget.

Sometimes the film feels like it’s drifting. It forgets to tell a story for about twenty minutes while everyone just bickers. I didn't mind it, but I imagine some people would just turn it off there. It feels almost like watching a home movie of someone else's miserable boss.

The performances feel very much 'of the time,' if you catch my drift. Lots of big hand gestures and expressions that would probably get you kicked out of a real office today. 💼

If you enjoyed the quiet, strange atmosphere of Die Gespensteruhr, you might find something to latch onto here. It’s not essential viewing, but it’s a weird little time capsule that doesn't overstay its welcome. Just don't expect it to change your life.