Kirschen in Nachbars Garten: Charming or just dusty?

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, if you have a soft spot for black-and-white comedies where the stakes are mostly just 'who is going to marry who,' then yeah, you’ll probably find something to like here. It’s gentle. It’s predictable. If you need explosions or a pacing that doesn't feel like a lazy Sunday afternoon, you’re going to hate it. This isn't exactly The House of Fear in terms of intensity, obviously.

The whole premise is simple: city girl meets country boy, auntie throws a wrench in the gears. It’s the kind of plot that’s been done a thousand times, but there’s a certain weird warmth to it that kept me from checking my watch.

The aunt is the real star

Adele Sandrock is just eating up the scenery here. She plays the meddling aunt with such commitment that you almost forget she’s basically the villain of the story. There's this one scene where she’s just staring someone down across a table, and the camera lingers for a second too long—it’s hilarious.

It reminds me a bit of the vibe in Just a Minute!, where you’re just waiting for the next bit of social awkwardness to hit the fan. The actors are clearly having a good time, even when the dialogue feels like it was written in a bit of a rush.

A few notes from my notepad:

• The garden sets are clearly fake, which gives it this weirdly cozy, stage-play aesthetic.
• I’m pretty sure I saw someone trip in the background during the village festival scene.
• The lighting in the farmhouse is surprisingly moody for such a silly movie.
• Hedi Höpfner has this look on her face in the final act that says she’s already done with the whole production.

It’s definitely not high art. It’s not going to change your life. But sometimes you just want to watch people bicker in a nice garden while everyone pretends they aren't falling in love. It’s a bit like watching Miles of Smiles—it’s got that specific, slightly dusty charm that only old films seem to hold onto.

The movie doesn't really try to be anything other than a pleasant distraction. It hits its marks, keeps things light, and ends right when you’re starting to get tired of the bickering. That’s enough, right? 🍒