Der Vogelhändler: A bit of old-world fluff for a rainy afternoon

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, only if you have a soft spot for 1930s operetta fluff. If you want something gritty or fast, steer clear. This is for people who like to pretend they are sitting in a velvet-seated theater in pre-war Europe, drinking something far too expensive.

The whole movie feels like a postcard that got left out in the rain. It’s got that specific kind of 1930s cheerfulness that feels a bit forced, like everyone is holding their breath to keep from breaking into a waltz. 💃

Adam, the bird seller, shows up and I swear, the movie spends about twenty minutes just letting him look at his birds. It’s charming, sure, but also kind of weirdly hypnotic in a way that made me check my watch twice.

The music is... well, it’s operetta. If you like those soaring, slightly frantic melodies that seem to be everywhere in A Soldier's Plaything, you’ll be right at home here. If you prefer literally anything else, it might start to grate on your nerves after the third or fourth song.

Odd little notes:

• The villagers have this way of popping out from behind trees that makes the whole thing feel like a stage play that forgot it was being filmed.
• Lil Dagover is doing a lot of heavy lifting with just her eyebrows.
• I’m pretty sure one of the extras in the background of the market scene is just eating a pretzel for three minutes straight.
• The lighting in the final act is so bright I think it actually bleached my screen.

There is a moment near the middle where the plot just sort of vanishes. It doesn't get complicated; it just stops existing for a while so everyone can dance. It’s a bit jarring, but kind of refreshing in a way? Like watching Pretty Plungers, you realize the story was never really the point anyway.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it better than Cold Chills? Different beast entirely, but at least this one doesn't make you want to hide under your blanket.

It’s fine. Just don’t expect it to change your life. 🐦