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Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
Should you watch Karriere tonight? If you’re the kind of person who enjoys hunting through old archives for gems from the early 1930s, then yes.
But if you need fast editing or characters that explain every single feeling they have, you’re probably going to hate it. It’s a slow one. 🎬
The movie is mostly about Vivian Gibson. She plays a woman who is trying to make something of herself, hence the title. It’s that classic story of climbing the ladder, but it feels very European and very heavy.
I was struck by how Gibson uses her eyes. In these early sound films, actors still had that silent-movie habit of staring directly into your soul. It’s a bit much sometimes, but it works here.
Walter Rilla is the leading man and he is... well, he’s very stiff. He stands like he has a wooden board strapped to his back under that suit. I wonder if that was just the fashion for men back then—to look like they couldn't turn their necks.
There is a scene in a fancy drawing room that feels like it lasts for an eternity. Nobody says anything for about thirty seconds. You can hear the faint hiss of the old film reel, and it makes the whole thing feel like you're eavesdropping on a real ghost. 👻
I noticed a weird detail in that scene: a bowl of fruit on the table looks completely fake. Like, plastic fruit from a craft store fake. It’s funny because everything else in the set looks so expensive and real.
The pacing reminds me a bit of Guilt. It doesn't rush to get to the point. It just sort of lets the characters sit in their own misery for a while.
Lotte Lorring shows up and she has this incredible hair. It’s perfectly coiffed in a way that seems impossible for 1930. I spent about five minutes just wondering how much hairspray they used before hairspray was even a big thing.
The way the movie handles the "career" aspect is interesting. It’s not about hard work in an office. It’s about who you know and what parties you get invited to.
It’s a lot more cynical than I expected. It reminded me of Lilies of the Streets, where the world is just waiting to trip you up. There’s no safety net in this story.
Wolfgang Zilzer has a small role and he’s quite good. He has a more natural way of moving than the other actors. He doesn't feel like he’s performing for the back row of a theater.
I did find myself getting a bit bored during the middle section. There are a lot of scenes of people walking into rooms, bowing, and then walking out of rooms. 🚶♂️
If you compare this to something like The Black Pirate, it’s obviously much less exciting. But it has a different kind of energy. It’s more about the vibe of the rooms and the smoke in the air.
The writing by Rudolf Schlater is okay, but some of the dialogue feels very “written.” Like, nobody actually talks in long, perfectly structured sentences when they are angry. But hey, it’s 1930.
I loved the hats. The hats are the real stars. Every woman in this movie wears a hat that looks like a piece of modern architecture. I don't know how they kept them on their heads without leaning over.
One reaction shot of Johannes Roth lingers so long it actually becomes funny. He just looks increasingly confused while the other person is talking. I think the editor might of fallen asleep for a second there.
It’s not as fun as Bomben, but it’s more thoughtful. It feels like a movie made for adults who want to think about how tough life is. It's a bit of a downer, honestly.
I kept thinking about how different this is from an American movie like The Canyon Hold-Up. There’s no hero riding in to save the day here. You just have to save yourself, or you don't.
The ending is kind of abrupt. It just sort of... stops. I wasn't sure if I had missed a scene or if that was the actual conclusion. But the more I think about it, the more I like it. Life doesn't always have a big ending.
Overall, Karriere is a weird little relic. It’s not a masterpiece, but it has a soul. You can feel the people behind the camera trying to figure out how to make this new "sound movie" thing work. 🎥
Watch it if you like melodrama and fancy coats. Skip it if you’re sleepy. It will definitely put you to bed if you aren't careful.
I'm glad I watched it, even if I don't think I'll ever need to see it again. It’s like a postcard from a version of Germany that was about to change forever. Kind of haunting, if you think about it too much.
Check out The Pied Piper if you want something with a bit more of a fairy-tale feel after this. You’ll need a palate cleanser. 🍭
Anyway, Gibson is great. Keep an eye on her eyes. They tell the whole story better than the script does.
IMDb 6.3
1922
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