La fortune: A strange, dusty comedy that time almost forgot

Is this worth your time?

Honestly, you have to be the type of person who digs through bargain bins at antique stores to enjoy La fortune. If you love sleek, modern pacing, stay away. Far away. But if you have a soft spot for grainy, stagey French cinema where the acting feels like it's happening in a slightly crowded living room, you might find something here.

It’s definitely not a movie for the casual Friday night crowd. People who get annoyed by bad audio or theater-style overacting will probably hate it within ten minutes. That's fine. It's not trying to win you over anyway. 🤷‍♂️

The Vibe

Watching this felt less like watching a movie and more like eavesdropping on a conversation I wasn't invited to. The plot is just… there. It’s a backdrop for people to act frantic about money, which is honestly the most relatable thing ever. I found myself focusing on the way people moved in the background—mostly just trying not to bump into the furniture. It’s cramped!

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of La fortune (1931) through its definitive frames.

There’s a moment with Claude Dauphin where he’s just standing there, and the expression on his face is so painfully specific. It’s like he just realized he left the stove on, or maybe he’s thinking about how much he hates the person sitting across from him. It’s these tiny, unpolished beats that make the whole thing feel alive.

Random Thoughts

• The framing is so tight sometimes you feel like you're trapped in the room with them.
• Alice Tissot really steals the scenes she's in, even when she’s barely doing anything.
• It reminds me of the chaotic energy in Angora Love, but way less slapstick and way more talk-talk-talk.
• Some of the dialogue hits like a brick, and other parts just float by.
• The print I saw had these little scratches that made me feel like I was watching it in a basement. I kind of liked that.

I caught myself looking at the wallpaper in one scene for way too long. Why was it peeling in that exact pattern? Does it matter? No. But you notice these things when a movie isn't grabbing your throat to force you to watch the plot points. It’s a quiet, messy, imperfect little film.

If you're looking for something that feels like a polished The Hound of the Baskervilles, look elsewhere. This isn't that. It’s just people, money, and a lot of frantic energy. Take it or leave it, I guess. 🎬