Die karierte Weste: A chaotic mess of physical comedy

Is it worth your time?

If you have any interest in early 20th-century comedy, absolutely. It’s short, punchy, and moves way faster than you’d expect a film from this era to move. If you hate slapstick or get annoyed by people talking over each other for ten minutes straight, stay far away. This isn't a structured narrative; it's a headache in the best way possible.

Karl Valentin has this way of moving that makes me think his limbs are barely attached to his body. Watching him in Die karierte Weste, I felt like he was constantly about to fold himself into a suitcase.

Liesl Karlstadt is, as always, the only thing keeping the whole thing from flying off the rails. She has this deadpan stare that cuts right through the noise. It’s the kind of performance that makes me think of Fanny in the Lion's Den, where the chaos is just a background noise for the real talent on display.

There’s a moment with the vest that goes on for way too long. Honestly, it’s hilarious. You can see the exact second they stop trying to follow the script and just start messing with each other.

The pacing is jittery. It feels less like a movie and more like a fever dream you had after eating too much cheese before bed. It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in The Town Scandal, though obviously a different kind of beast.

Small things I noticed:

• The way the shadows hit the wall in the back feels weirdly intentional.
• Valentin’s hat seems to have its own personality, or maybe it’s just me.
• The silence between their lines is actually louder than the talking.

It’s not trying to be Sherlock Holmes or some grand epic. It’s just two people in a room being entirely impossible. Sometimes that’s enough. I think I’ll rewatch it tomorrow just to see if I missed a gag in the corner of the frame. 🥨