Mädchen in Weiß is a bit of a soap opera but that singing is something else

Is it worth the watch?

Honestly, it depends on how much you like old-school opera and 1930s drama. If you’re looking for something fast-paced, you’ll probably hate this one within ten minutes.

But if you like movies where everyone lives in giant rooms and talks about 'honor' a lot, it's a decent afternoon watch. It feels a bit like Karriere in that it’s all about the struggle to be an artist when society wants you to just sit still.

I put this on mostly because I wanted to see the Smolny Institute setting. It’s this very strict, very white-walled boarding school in St. Petersburg, and the movie captures that chilly atmosphere perfectly. ❄️

The main girl is played by Maria Cebotari, and man, can she sing. You can tell the director knew she was the real draw because the camera just sits on her face for ages while she hits those high notes. It’s not like today’s movies where they cut away every two seconds. It’s actually quite nice to just watch someone be talented for a bit.

But then there's the fiancé. The Count. I forget his name in the movie, but he is just... the worst? He’s one of those 'imperious' types who thinks opera is beneath a woman of her standing. Every time he showed up on screen, I found myself wanting to throw a pillow at the TV. He has this stiff way of walking that makes him look like he’s got a board strapped to his back.

The plot gets a bit weird when the jewelry theft starts. There is another student at the school—the one dating the Grand Duke—who is just incredibly petty. 💅

She accuses our lead of stealing some jewels, and it feels so forced? Like, the movie needed some 'action' so they just threw in a crime subplot. It’s not as gritty as something like The Big City, but it adds some stakes to the school scenes.

There is one shot during the jewelry confrontation where the lighting is really dramatic. Half of the room is in total shadow, and the other half is blindingly bright. It felt a bit out of place for a movie that is mostly very 'white' and airy, but I liked it. It showed the stress the character was under without her having to say anything.

I noticed that the extras in the background of the school scenes look like they are having way more fun than the main actors. There’s a group of girls in the back of the dining hall who are whispering and laughing in almost every shot. I wonder if they were actually friends in real life? It’s a small detail but it made the school feel more real.

The costumes are also something else. Everyone is wearing these massive, flowing dresses that look like they weigh fifty pounds. I don’t know how they moved around the set without knocking over the furniture. It reminds me a bit of the style in New Women, but way more formal and restrictive.

Sometimes the movie stops dead for a musical number. If you don't like opera, you will be bored to tears. I’m not even a huge fan, but Cebotari’s voice is so powerful it’s hard not to be impressed. It’s much better than the music in Yo canto para ti, which felt a bit more generic to me.

One thing that bothered me was how quickly the Grand Duke character just... accepts the jewelry accusation. You'd think a guy with that much power would ask a few more questions, but nope. He just goes along with it because the plot needs him to. It’s a bit lazy writing, if I’m being honest. 🙄

The ending feels a little rushed too. Everything gets solved in about five minutes, and you’re left wondering why everyone was so stressed out for the last hour. It’s a common problem with movies from this era, I guess. They just want to get to the 'happily ever after' and call it a day.

Still, I’m glad I watched it. It’s got a specific kind of charm. It’s not a masterpiece like some other things from 1936, but it’s a nice look at a world that doesn’t exist anymore.

• The Good: Incredible singing, beautiful sets, and some really nice 1930s lighting tricks.
• The Bad: The Count is annoying, the jewelry plot is thin, and the pacing drags in the middle.
• The Weird: There is a scene with a very small dog that seems to have no purpose at all. It just sits there. I liked the dog though.

If you've seen Karriere and liked the 'struggling artist' vibe, give this a go. Just be prepared to roll your eyes at the fiancé a few times. He really is a buzzkill.

Anyway, that’s my take. It’s a Mädchen in Weiß kind of day. 🎬