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7/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Die kleine Veronika remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
You should watch this if you like silent movies that feel a bit more grounded and less like a stage play. It is perfect for a rainy Sunday when you want to feel a little bit sad about how the world works.
If you can't stand black and white or you need a plot that moves at a million miles an hour, you will probably be bored out of your mind. This one takes its time.
The movie starts in the Tyrol mountains. Everything looks very clean and very poor.
Veronika is just a kid, really. She’s candid and sweet, and she looks like she belongs in the grass.
I noticed how the camera lingers on the rocks and the small houses. It feels like the director wanted us to smell the mountain air before shoving us into the city.
Her parents are struggling. You can see it in the way they sit at the table.
Then comes the letter from the Aunt in Vienna. It feels like a golden ticket.
Veronika goes to Vienna for her Christian Confirmation. She’s so excited she can barely stand it.
But the Aunt isn't just a rich lady. She runs a brothel.
The contrast when Veronika gets to the city is jarring. The streets are crowded and everyone looks like they have a secret.
I loved the way the Aunt looks at her when she first arrives. It's a mix of guilt and something else... maybe she's remembering when she was that young?
It reminds me a bit of the vibe in La fiera dei desideri. That feeling of wanting something better but finding out the price is too high.
The acting isn't as campy as some other films from 1929. Maly Delschaft is really good as the Aunt.
She doesn't do the big, wide-eyed silent movie gasps. She just looks tired.
The story feels like something that could happen today, just with different clothes. It’s that old story about the city swallowing up people from the country.
It reminded me of the desperation in The Golden Fleece. Everyone is just chasing a bit of comfort and ending up worse off.
Some of the outdoor shots in Vienna look like they just filmed whoever was walking by. You see people staring at the camera for a split second.
There’s a scene in a restaurant that goes on way too long. I think they just liked the set.
The music in the version I saw was a bit repetitive. It played the same sad violin part about twenty times.
Veronika’s father has a mustache that is truly impressive. I spent several minutes just wondering how much wax he used.
It’s a scruffy little movie but it has a big heart. It doesn't try to be a masterpiece, which is why I liked it.
The ending isn't a happy one. But it feels right for the story.
If you’ve seen The Blizzard, you know how these survival stories usually go. This is just a different kind of survival.
I’m glad I watched it. It made me want to go for a walk in the woods and stay away from big cities for a while. 🌲
IMDb —
1922
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