Kampf: Fast Cars, Old Flames, and Awkward Dinners

Is it worth your time?

If you have a thing for vintage German cinema and cars that look like they belong in a museum, you might get a kick out of Kampf. It’s got that specific mid-century polish where everyone is either squinting into the sun or looking deeply troubled by a past romance.

However, if you need a coherent script that isn't just people staring intensely at each other while wearing driving goggles, you’re going to be bored out of your mind. Honestly, skip this if you’re looking for a thrill ride. It’s more of a long-winded conversation that occasionally remembers it’s supposed to be about motor racing. 🏎️

The Racing Stuff

The actual car scenes are… well, they exist. There’s this one sequence where the camera just lingers on the tires spinning in the dirt for way too long. I think the director thought it added gravitas, but it mostly just made me want to check my watch. It felt like they ran out of plot and decided to just show us some hubcaps for a solid minute.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Kampf (1932) through its definitive frames.

The rivalry between Robert and Kurt is supposed to be the hook, but it feels a bit hollow. They spend half the movie acting like brothers and the other half looking at each other like they’re trying to solve a math problem in their heads. It’s just oddly stiff.

Wait, what about the plot?

The whole Eva situation is a classic case of "let’s make this as complicated as possible for no reason." It reminds me a bit of the domestic tension in Rough House Rosie, but with way less charm and way more brooding.

Sometimes the dialogue is so formal it sounds like they’re reading from a manual on how to be a gentleman. You can practically hear the writers forcing these lines into the actors' mouths. It lacks the natural, messy feeling of a real argument. It’s just people being polite while holding deep, unspoken grudges.

Odd Details

• The Ufa Jazz-Orchester pops up, and it’s actually the best part of the movie.
• The driving outfits are top-tier. I want one of those leather helmets.
• There is a shot of a dinner table that lasts so long I counted the silverware.
• Nobody ever seems to get any grease on their faces, despite spending all day under a hood.

It’s not a bad film, just a very specific one. You’ll either find it charmingly vintage or just plain slow. I think I fell somewhere in the middle. It’s definitely not as sharp as Rain, but it has its own weird, dusty energy. Don't go in expecting a high-octane masterpiece, and you'll survive.