Faut-il les marier? is a strange, dusty relic

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s French cinema where everyone speaks at 100 miles per hour and wears extremely uncomfortable-looking hats, then sure, go for it. If you need a movie that feels modern or has a plot that moves with any sense of logic, you will probably hate it. It’s a dusty one, that’s for sure.

The whole thing feels like a stage play that someone accidentally left the camera running for. Henri Kerny is doing a lot of work here, mostly just looking stressed while everyone else argues in rooms that look like they’re made of cardboard. I found myself staring at the wallpaper in the background for way too long. It’s got that specific, slightly fuzzy texture you only get from movies this old. 🎥

Odd moments and observations

• Jean-Pierre Aumont has this way of blinking that makes him look like he’s trying to read a teleprompter that isn't there.
• The pacing is a nightmare, but in a funny way. Conversations just stop abruptly.
• There is a scene near the middle where a chair is clearly wobbling, and nobody seems to notice.

It’s not as sharp as The Passionate Friends, but it has this weird, frantic energy that I actually didn't mind. Sometimes it feels like the actors are about to burst out laughing at their own lines. You can practically see the sweat on their brows during the close-ups. It’s messy.

I kept wondering why they didn't just stop talking and get on with the plot. But then, these old comedies are never really about the plot, are they? It’s just people in fancy clothes being dramatic about nothing. It’s almost relaxing to watch something so low-stakes.

If you’re looking for a masterpiece, look elsewhere. But if you want to see a weird slice of history where people act like they’ve had too much coffee, you could do worse. It’s certainly not a movie that will stick in your brain for years, but it’s a fine way to kill an hour if you’re tired of modern stuff. Sometimes the imperfection is the best part, right?