Review: Die Schleiertänzerin (1926) is a weird, moody trip

You should watch this if you have a soft spot for grainy silent films and people who look very worried in black and white. Don't bother if you need a plot that moves faster than a tired turtle. 🐢

It’s one of those movies where everyone is wearing way too much eyeliner. Even the guys.

Hans Albers shows up and he’s already got that screen presence. It’s hard to explain, he just looks like he knows something you don't even in the silent era.

The whole thing feels a bit like Marizza but with more fabric and fewer goats. It has that specific Weimar energy where everything feels slightly dangerous for no reason.

There is a scene where a woman is dancing with veils—hence the name—and the camera just stares at her. It gets a bit awkward after about thirty seconds of her just waving her arms around.

I noticed a scratch on the film during a big emotional moment. It actually made the scene feel more real than the acting did?

The movie get's a bit slow in the middle when they start talking about the plot. I mostly just wanted to see more of the weird 1920s sets.

It reminds me of the strange tension in The Unknown. Just without the circus stuff and with more fancy dresses.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Die Schleiertänzerin (1929) through its definitive frames.

The sets look like they are made of cardboard. Beautiful cardboard, but you can almost see it shaking when someone slams a door.

I liked how the music—well, the piano track on my copy—makes you focus on their hands. People talked with their hands a lot in 1926 because they had to, I guess.

It’s not as intense as Husbands or Lovers. It’s more of a slow burn that never quite catches fire.

Sometimes the actors just stand there and look at each other. For a long time. It’s supposed to be romantic but it looks like they forgot their lines.

The director really liked fabric. There is so much silk and lace moving around in every single frame.

I noticed one extra in the background of a club scene who was just staring directly at the camera. He looked very confused to be there, like he wandered in from a different movie entirely. 🎥

It’s not quite as punchy as The Main Event. But it has its own weird, quiet charm if you're in the right mood.

The ending feels a bit rushed, like they suddenly remembered they had to finish the story. Or maybe the sun was coming up and they had to stop filming.

It’s a solid piece of history if you can find a good print. Just don't expect a masterpiece that will change your life.