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4.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 4.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Die Insel remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a thing for vintage dramas where people stand in grand rooms and talk about their duty, you might find something to like here. If you prefer movies that actually move, well, maybe skip this one. It is not exactly The Face at the Window, if you catch my drift.
The whole movie feels like it’s wearing a tuxedo that’s two sizes too small. Everyone is so preoccupied with 'prestige' and 'country' that they seem to have forgotten how to be human. It’s all very formal.
The premise is simple enough: a diplomat gets caught in a mess, and the only way to save face is to quit the game entirely. I found myself checking my watch about halfway through. The pacing is just… sleepy.
There is a scene where a character stares out a window for what felt like ten full minutes. It is supposed to be heavy with tension, but it just felt like a nap was coming on. Brigitte Helm is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, though.
She has this way of looking at the camera that makes you think she knows the script is a bit dry, too. She’s the best part of the whole thing.
It reminds me a bit of the stuffiness in All for Money, but with less of the charm. It’s a bit like watching a chess match where both players have forgotten where they put their pieces. You get the sense that they are trying to say something profound about honor, but the message gets lost in the velvet curtains.
Also, the ending. Oh boy. It is one of those moments where the movie tries to convince you it is being brave. I just felt relieved the credits were finally rolling. If you have an hour to kill and really, really love 1930s European sets, go for it. Otherwise, maybe just watch Steamboat Willie again for the tenth time. It’s more honest.