Le roi du cirage: A messy but charming trip back to 30s France

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for 1930s slapstick and don't mind a bit of narrative fumbling, sure. It’s light. It’s airy. It moves faster than the plot actually deserves.

If you need high-stakes drama or anything resembling a coherent script, you’re going to hate this. It’s a bit of a relic, honestly. 🤡

There is this one moment with a shoe-shine kit that just goes on forever. It’s not even that funny, but the actor's commitment to the bit is kind of impressive in a 'why are you doing this' way.

The pacing feels like it was edited by someone who had a train to catch. One minute we're in a fancy parlor, and the next we're in the street with no real transition. It’s jarring, but kind of refreshing compared to the over-calculated stuff we get today.

Some observations from the couch

• The lighting in the cafe scene makes everyone look like they’re being haunted by a ghost.
• I swear the same background extra appears three times in five minutes.
• Georges Milton is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Like, a lot.

The whole thing reminded me a bit of the frantic energy found in Princesse, à vos ordres!, though this one lacks that specific level of polish. It’s more rough-around-the-edges, like a sketch that never quite finished its final draft.

There is a scene near the middle where they are just talking, and the camera lingers on a hat rack for way too long. I sat there waiting for someone to grab a coat, but no. Just the hat rack. It’s that kind of movie.

Don't expect it to change your life. It’s a popcorn flick from a time when the popcorn probably cost a nickel. 🍿

I think the best way to watch this is with the sound low, maybe while you’re doing something else. It’s a vibe, not a thesis statement.

Anyway, I probably wouldn't watch it twice. But I don't regret the first time either.