Ismet: An Old-School Find That Probably Needs A Nap

Is this worth your Tuesday night?

Honestly, only if you're the kind of person who enjoys watching film history breathe through layers of scratches and analog fuzz. If you need a tight script or pacing that doesn't feel like it’s wading through waist-deep water, you’re going to hate this. It’s for the archivist in all of us.

There’s a scene about halfway through—or maybe it was the first act? Honestly, the timeline gets a bit blurry—where the framing feels so static I started wondering if the camera operator just walked off for a smoke break. It’s not necessarily bad, just wildly patient in a way that feels almost aggressive.

You can tell this movie really wants you to care about the social stakes. It’s got that earnest, heavy-handed energy you see in a lot of mid-30s cinema. Sometimes it works, but other times it feels like being lectured by someone who’s standing a little too close to your face.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Ismet (1934) through its definitive frames.

Comparing it to something like Manhatta, which uses its visual space to just kind of exist, Ismet is constantly trying to push a narrative agenda. It’s exhausting, really. 😩

Small observations from the notebook:

• The lighting in the interior shots is either 'blindingly bright' or 'I think the lightbulb died.' There is no in-between.
• The background extras in the market scene look like they’re trying not to laugh, which is honestly the most relatable part of the whole film.
• The sound quality—or lack thereof—adds this weird, ghostly texture to the dialogue. It’s like listening to people whisper from inside a tunnel.

It’s funny, I found myself thinking of A Life for a Life while watching this. Both share that heavy, melodramatic weight that modern movies just don't touch anymore. It’s almost charming, in a 'my grandmother’s photo album' sort of way.

Do I regret watching it? Not entirely. But I probably wouldn't choose it for a Friday night, either. It’s a movie that demands you be in a very specific, quiet, and slightly bored headspace. If you're looking for fireworks, go elsewhere. If you're looking for a relic, well, here it is. 🎞️