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5.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Fasters millioner remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, if you have a soft spot for 1930s Swedish comedies where everyone is either screaming or hiding behind a velvet curtain, you’ll probably get a kick out of Fasters millioner. If you need your movies to have modern pacing or, you know, a plot that makes actual sense, you might want to skip this one. It feels like a stage play that someone decided to film on a Tuesday afternoon. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it’s mostly just people running into rooms they shouldn't be in.
The whole thing kicks off with Georg, a guy who clearly thinks a little too highly of himself. He’s about to marry, but because of a classic, tired misunderstanding, his bride-to-be ditches him right at the altar. It’s the kind of over-the-top drama that only existed in movies made before the internet ruined everything.
Watching this made me think about Oh, Johnny! and how that era of film just loved throwing characters into these high-stakes, low-intelligence situations. There’s a specific energy to these black-and-white comedies—it’s like everyone is performing at 110% volume even when they're whispering.
The supporting cast is where things get genuinely weird. Karin Swanström basically steals the screen every time she shows up. She has this way of looking at the other actors that suggests she’s the only person in the room who realizes how ridiculous the script is. I love that for her.
There is a scene near the middle involving a dining table that goes on for way too long. The blocking is all over the place, and you can practically see one of the actors trying not to trip over a stray rug. It’s not 'cinematic' by any high-brow standard, but it’s real. It feels lived-in, mostly because it looks like they were all tired and ready for lunch.
It’s funny how a movie like this reminds me of the vibe in Wie werde ich reich und glücklich?. Both films treat money and marriage like a giant board game where the rules are made up on the spot. You aren't watching for the emotional payoff—you're watching to see who drops the vase next.
Is it a masterpiece? Hardly. But it’s got a weird, frantic heartbeat that’s kind of endearing. Sometimes, I prefer a movie that doesn't try to change my life, but just tries to make me laugh at a guy getting dumped in a tuxedo. 🎩
IMDb —
1928
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