Gehetzte Mädchen Review: A Gritty, Weirdly Human Weimar Mess

Is this worth your time?

You should watch Gehetzte Mädchen if you have a soft spot for grainy Berlin streets and girls looking constantly worried. If you want a polished masterpiece with a clear ending, you are probably gonna hate this one. 🎬

It’s one of those films that feels like it’s vibrating with anxiety. The girls in the story are pretty much running from everything, and you never really feel like they’ll get away.

I found myself staring at a door handle for about two minutes. The camera just stayed there while someone cried off-screen, and it felt way too long but also kind of right.

Berlin back then looks so grey and cold. It makes you want to put on a sweater just watching it. ❄️

The actress Elza Temary has this way of looking at the camera that makes you feel like she’s actually scared of the crew. It’s a very raw performance, even when the plot gets a bit silly.

There is a scene in a dark hallway where the shadows are stretched out like monsters. It reminded me a bit of the vibe in The Ragged Princess, but way more depressing.

Ivan Koval-Samborsky moves his hands way too much during the big argument. He looks like he’s trying to catch a fly that isn't there.

I noticed a poster on the wall in the background of the cafe scene that was half-torn. I spent more time wondering what the poster was for than listening to the dialogue. ☕

The plot doesn't really matter as much as the mood. It is kind of a mess, honestly, but a human mess.

If you liked the slow parts of Pages of Life, you might find this interesting. It has that same feeling of people just being stuck in a bad situation.

One guy has a mustache that is definitely fake. It was peeling at the left corner during his close-up, and I couldn't look at anything else. 🥸

The ending feels like they just ran out of film and decided to go home. It just... stops.

I think the director forgot to tell the extras what to do in the background of the street scenes. Half of them are just standing there staring at the camera like they've never seen a lens before.

Go watch Branding Broadway if you want something that actually makes sense. But if you want to feel haunted by 1930s Germany, stay here.

The music in the version I saw was really loud and didn't fit the mood at all. It sounded like a circus was happening during a funeral. 🎺

It’s not as fancy as Du Barry, Woman of Passion, but it feels more real. Or at least, the dirt on the floor looks more real.

Maybe the film is trying to say something important about society, but I was too distracted by the peeling mustache. I still liked it though.

It’s a weird piece of history that doesn't care if you're having a good time. Sometimes that’s exactly what I want from a movie night.