Haut comme trois pommes: Small kids, big headaches

Is it worth the time?

Honestly, only if you have a real soft spot for old, grainy French comedies where everyone talks a little too fast and the stakes are basically zero. If you need a plot that moves like a bullet train, stay away. You’ll probably hate it if you get annoyed by kids yelling or shaky 1930s audio. But if you want something that feels like a quiet, sun-drenched afternoon in a village that doesn't exist anymore, it's weirdly hypnotic. 🎞️

It’s not trying to be The Fable of Fearless Fido or anything with a grand message. It’s just... kids being kids, mostly running around and getting into scrapes that aren't actually dangerous. There’s this one scene where a group of them are huddled up near a wall, whispering, and the camera lingers for so long you start to wonder if they forgot to yell cut. It’s great.

The adults in this are mostly just background noise, standing around looking confused or grumpy. They have that stiff, theatrical way of moving that makes you realize how much movie acting has changed since this was filmed. It isn't bad, it’s just very of its time.

Small things I noticed:

• The sound design is mostly just wind and frantic footsteps.
• The way the shadows hit the cobblestones in the second act makes the whole street look like a cardboard set.
• I swear one of the extras in the background is trying not to laugh during the big argument.

Comparing this to something like The Snob is a bit of a reach, but there’s a similar vibe of people taking their own tiny problems way too seriously. It’s funny because they don't know any better. The kids are playing at being adults, and the adults are acting like they’re still playing.

It’s a bit messy. It doesn't have the polish of, say, The Oval Portrait, but it has heart. Sometimes the frame feels a bit cramped, like they were trying to fit too many people into a narrow alleyway. You can almost smell the dust coming off the screen. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s real enough for me. 🥖