Is this worth your time today?
Only if you’re the kind of person who likes dusty French silents or if you just really enjoy 1920s fashion.
Most people will probably find it way too slow, honestly.
But if you like seeing how people used to flirt 100 years ago, it’s a fun little time capsule. 🎬
The main guy, Paul Amiot, has this very *intense* way of looking at women.
It’s like he’s trying to solve a hard math problem on their faces.
He’s not exactly a heartthrob by modern standards, but he carries himself like he owns every room, even the ones that clearly look like they're made of painted cardboard.
There’s this one scene where he’s sitting at a desk and he just stares at a letter for what feels like five minutes.
You can almost see the gears grinding in his head.
Or maybe he just forgot what he was supposed to do next?
Sandra Milovanoff shows up eventually and the whole movie gets a lot better.
She has these **massive** eyes that do all the heavy lifting in her scenes.
She doesn't even need the title cards to tell us she's annoyed; she just gives a look and you get it.
I wish she was in the movie more, to be honest.
The sets are very... well, very 1920s.
Lots of heavy curtains and furniture that looks incredibly uncomfortable to sit on for more than ten minutes.
It reminded me a bit of the clutter in
The Marriage Market.
I noticed the lighting in the kitchen scene is actually pretty bad.
One side of the actor's face is totally dark, and not in a cool 'noir' way.
It just looks like they ran out of lightbulbs that day. 💡
The plot is about him trying to find the 'best mistress,' which is a very French concept from that era.
It gets complicated for no real reason, with people jumping in and out of scenes.
It feels like a stage play where someone forgot to close the curtains between acts.
There’s a moment with a dog that I really liked.
The dog looks more confused than anyone else in the cast.
It just stares directly at the camera for a second like it’s asking the director for help.
I wonder if they even realized they left that in?
The title cards are a bit flowery and use words that feel like they’re trying too hard to be poetic.
But that was just the style back then, so you kind of have to just go with it.
It’s definitely better than
Cleopatra when it comes to the pacing, at least.
Danièle Parola is fine, I guess, but she wears a hat that is so big it should have its own zip code.
Seriously, how did she keep her head up without falling over?
It’s a bit distracting when she’s trying to have a serious emotional moment and this giant velvet pancake is wobbling on her head.
I think the movie thinks it's being way more clever than it actually is.
It tries to make these big points about love and money, but mostly it's just people looking worried in fancy clothes.
Which is fine! I’ve watched much worse things on a Tuesday night.
The ending felt a bit rushed, like they realized they were running out of film and had to wrap it up.
Suddenly everything is solved and everyone is happy, but it didn't really feel earned.
If you’ve seen
The Woman and the Beast, you’ll know what I mean about the weird editing jumps.
It gives the whole thing a bit of a jittery energy that keeps you awake.
I wouldn't call this a masterpiece or anything.
It’s more like a curious little artifact you’d find in a thrift store.
It has some soul, even if the grammary in the subs I had was a bit wonky.
I kept thinking about the costumes the whole time.
The men’s suits are so high-waisted they’re practically tucked into their armpits.
And everyone is always smoking. 🚬
There’s a scene in a garden that actually looks quite nice.
The trees look real, which is a nice break from the painted backdrops they used earlier.
You can see the actors actually breathing the fresh air for a change.
Is it funny? Sometimes.
Mostly it's funny when it isn't trying to be, like when Tramel does that weird little hop-walk across the room.
I’d say watch it if you’re in a quiet, patient mood.
Turn off your phone and don't expect it to change your life.
Just let the grainy black and white images wash over you.
It’s a 1929 movie, so it’s right on the edge of the sound era starting.
You can almost feel the world of cinema about to change forever while you watch it.
But for now, it’s still silent, and there’s something peaceful about that.
I’m glad I saw it, even if I won’t remember much of the plot in a week.
Except for that hat. I’ll definitely remember that hat. 👒
