Hannerl und ihre Liebhaber: A Slice of Old Vienna

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for black-and-white operettas or just want to see what 1930s Vienna looked like when the cameras were rolling, sure, give it a whirl. It is light as air. But if you’re looking for something with actual stakes or grit, you’ll probably find yourself checking your watch by the thirty-minute mark.

It’s the kind of movie that feels like it was filmed entirely on a soundstage while everyone was having a decent enough lunch break. There is this strange, static quality to the way people move around the sets. It’s not necessarily bad, just very staged.

The Viennese charm

Hans Moser is in this, obviously. You can’t have a movie about Vienna from this era without him showing up to mutter something funny under his breath. Every time he’s on screen, the whole thing perks up a little bit. He has this way of leaning into a scene that makes the other actors look like they’re reading off cue cards.

Hannerl herself is… fine. She’s waiting for something better, and honestly, don’t we all? The singing bits are sprinkled in just enough that they don’t become annoying. It reminded me a little of the pacing in Variety, though obviously with a lot less tension and a lot more wine.

Oddly specific details

• The way the extras in the Heurigen scene look like they’re desperately trying not to laugh.
• The lighting in the garden scenes is so bright it’s almost distracting.
• I’m pretty sure I saw the same prop chair in three different rooms.

There’s a moment where the aristocrat, the 'Excellenz', is wandering around looking for a 'natural' girlfriend. It feels like he’s shopping for produce. It’s weirdly cynical for such a happy-go-lucky movie. He wants authenticity, but he’s looking for it in the most calculated way possible. Irony, anyone?

It’s not trying to be Die Koffer des Herrn O.F. or some high-minded piece of cinema. It’s just a story about a girl, a singer, and a guy who has too much money and not enough to do. Sometimes, that is exactly what you need on a Tuesday evening.

Don't expect it to change your life. It’s just a pleasant, slightly dusty postcard from a time that doesn't exist anymore. Grab a drink and don't think too hard about the plot holes.