Is Lucyna a Girl? Is a delightful mess of 1930s mistaken identity

Should you bother?

If you have a soft spot for pre-war comedies where everyone talks fast and wears fancy suits, you will probably get a kick out of Is Lucyna a Girl?. If you need your movies to be grounded in reality or hate plot lines that rely on someone not noticing a wig for three months, stay away. This is pure, sugary fluff from an era that didn't care much for logic.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Is Lucyna a Girl? (1934) through its definitive frames.

Lucyna isn't just playing dress-up; she’s actually a qualified engineer. Watching her try to navigate a dusty, male-dominated office while pretending to be 'Julian' is the whole point. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in A Dangerous Affair, though this one is much less concerned with being dramatic.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Is Lucyna a Girl? (1934) through its definitive frames.

The Suit Fits

The transformation scene is surprisingly brief. One minute she’s a girl, the next she’s in a sharp suit and suddenly the men at the office are listening to her. The movie doesn't dwell on the struggle of it all, which is kind of nice. It just treats the gender-swap as a tool to get the plot moving.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Is Lucyna a Girl? (1934) through its definitive frames.

There is this one moment in the office where she almost trips over her own trousers, and the look of sheer terror on her face is priceless. It’s a tiny detail, but it makes her feel more like a human and less like a character in a sketch. Also, the lighting in the office scenes is weirdly cozy, like someone decided they were filming a tea party instead of an engineering firm.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Is Lucyna a Girl? (1934) through its definitive frames.

Wait, what?

Is it perfect? Hardly. There are moments where the dialogue just loops in circles, and I found myself checking my phone because the pacing hit a total wall. It’s not quite as chaotic as Seven Bald Pates, but it shares that same DNA of 'let's just have everyone run around in circles until the credits roll.' 😅

• The wardrobe department clearly had a better budget than the scriptwriters.
• The father character is so grumpy it’s almost impressive.
• I still don't know how she pulled off the voice. Maybe we aren't supposed to ask?

The film doesn't really try to say anything deep about gender or society, and honestly, that’s fine. It’s just a movie about a girl who wants a job. Sometimes that’s enough. Just don't expect it to change your life.

It’s light. It’s a bit silly. It’s definitely from a different world entirely. Watch it with a drink and don't overthink the plot holes. They are everywhere, but they don't really matter. 🎩