Die klugen Frauen: A weird, charming historical pivot

Should you watch this?

If you like old black-and-white cinema that doesn't feel like a dusty museum piece, give it a shot. It’s funny, sometimes a bit stiff, but genuinely clever. If you hate reading subtitles or need your movies to be packed with high-octane action, you're gonna be bored within ten minutes. This one is for the folks who like a bit of wit with their period dramas.

It’s wild that they shot this version alongside the French original, La Kermesse Héroïque. You can tell they were trying to capture lightning in a bottle twice. The result feels a little like a stage play that got lost on its way to the theater, but in a way that actually works.

The vibe is surprisingly modern

The men in this town are such cowards. They see the Spanish soldiers coming and practically trip over themselves to hide in the cellar. It’s pathetic, honestly. But then the women take over, and the whole energy of the film shifts. They aren't trying to be heroes; they're just trying to survive without their town getting burned to a crisp.

There’s this one scene where they’re arranging a banquet, and the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. It’s not about swords or cannons. It’s about who holds the wine and who talks the loudest. It reminded me a bit of the domestic maneuvering you see in They Had to See Paris, though with way more lace and ruffles.

A few weird notes

• The pacing is a bit uneven—sometimes it drags, then suddenly a joke lands perfectly.
• Some of the actors look like they’re trying way too hard to look 'historical,' which is pretty funny.
• The Spanish commander has this mustache that deserves its own credit in the film.
• The lighting in the market square scenes looks a bit flat, like they were filming during a very cloudy Tuesday.

Is it better than the French version? I don't know, maybe? It’s hard to compare when you're just enjoying the chaos. Sometimes, you don't need a masterpiece, you just need a movie that knows it’s being a bit cheeky. 🍷

I found myself wondering if they had any fun on set or if they were just exhausted by the dual-language production. Either way, it holds up better than some of the clunkier stuff like Godless Men. It’s not profound, but it’s sharp. And honestly, that’s enough for me today.