Il était une fois: Beauty, Crime, and a Whole Lot of Old-School Drama

Is it worth the watch?

If you have the patience for black-and-white dramas that take their sweet time getting to the point, then sure, go for it. People who prefer fast-paced editing or modern grit are probably going to hate this. It’s got that specific, slightly dusty French charm that either grabs you by the throat or puts you to sleep.

The whole premise of a criminal getting a makeover to fix her life is just wild to think about now. It feels like a fairy tale, but one that forgot to include the magic wand. Instead, it’s all scalpels and social climbing.

Wait, the nose job?

There’s this one sequence right after the operation where the pacing just goes out the window. We spend way too long watching the bandages come off. I swear, the camera holds on Gaby Morlay’s face for an eternity. It’s supposed to be this massive moment of revelation, but it mostly just feels like the director was testing out how long he could hold a shot without the audience checking their watches. 🕰️

It reminded me a bit of the slow, methodical misery found in Sinner or Saint. You get that same feeling that the characters are trapped in a room that’s slowly getting smaller.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Il était une fois (1933) through its definitive frames.

• The lighting is moody as heck.
• The criminal gang feels more like a bunch of bored theater actors than actual thieves.
• Some of the dialogue is so fast you’ll wish you had subtitles, even if you speak the language.

Strange little details

I noticed a coffee cup in the corner of the frame during the big confrontation scene. It sits there for three minutes, completely untouched, while the protagonist is having an existential crisis. It’s distracting. Why is the coffee cup the most interesting thing in the room?

Also, the transition from "poor street girl" to "society lady" happens way too smoothly. She just kind of... stands differently. It’s funny how a change in posture does more heavy lifting than the actual writing.

It’s not as polished as Under Two Flags, but it has this weird, jagged edge to it. Sometimes the movie feels like it’s about to fall apart, and that’s when it’s actually the best. When it tries to be serious and "profound," it just feels like it’s over-explaining things that don't need explaining. Just let the lady be pretty and miserable, you know?

Don't expect a masterpiece. Expect a weird relic that’s occasionally brilliant and often just very, very French. I wouldn't call it a classic, but I’m glad I didn't turn it off after the first act. 🤷‍♂️