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7.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Der Theaterbesuch remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like your comedy dry, slightly mean-spirited, and obsessed with the kind of tiny details that make normal people snap, yes. If you need a plot that actually goes somewhere or a film that respects the concept of a 'straight line,' you will probably hate this. It’s a classic for a reason, but that reason isn't pacing.
There is something genuinely stressful about watching Karl Valentin try to follow rules that don't exist. He has this way of holding his body that suggests he’s constantly fighting against the air around him. It’s not graceful. It’s just stubborn.
The whole bit about the theater tickets is exactly the kind of thing that makes my blood pressure rise. You know that feeling when you're at the counter and the person in front of you decides to interrogate the clerk about the history of the venue? That’s this entire movie. It’s agonizing. It’s also hilarious.
Liesl Karlstadt is the only person who can keep up with him, which is a miracle in itself. She has this look on her face—like she’s perpetually three seconds away from walking out, but stays anyway. It’s perfect.
I found myself thinking about Small Talk while watching this, mainly because both films turn the act of just existing into a high-stakes standoff. But here, the stakes are just 'where do I sit?' and somehow that feels even more important than a bank heist.
Some of the camera work is, well, let's call it optimistic. It doesn't always track where it needs to be, but that just adds to the feeling that we are witnessing a genuine disaster. It’s not polished. It’s barely holding together. 🎭
It’s not a film you watch for the story. It’s a film you watch to see two people be absolutely insufferable to each other in a way that feels oddly cozy. Maybe don't watch it if you've had a long day at the box office.
