Mr. Cohen Takes a Walk: A quiet look at feeling obsolete

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for quiet, slightly dusty British dramas where people talk in rooms and stare thoughtfully at storefronts, you might actually like this. It is definitely not for anyone who needs high stakes, explosions, or a fast-moving plot. You will probably hate it if you get restless when a movie takes its sweet time getting to the point.

Honestly, watching Mr. Cohen feel like a background character in his own life is a bit sad. He’s built this massive department store, and now he’s just… there. The way the younger generation pushes him aside feels very real and kind of painful to watch.

There is this one scene where he’s wandering around, looking at a tiny, cramped shop, and you can just tell he’s projecting his whole identity onto the dusty shelves. He wants to be a 'real' shopkeeper again, not just the guy who signs the checks. It’s a very specific, weird kind of melancholy.

The subplot with his younger son’s marriage feels a bit like a distraction, honestly. It’s fine, but I kept wishing we could just go back to the scenes of Cohen looking at shopfronts. Those bits felt much more honest than the family drama.

I couldn't help but compare the domestic confusion here to the chaos in Der Herr Bürovorsteher. Both films have that weird obsession with office and store hierarchy, though Cohen’s problem is much more internal. He isn't worried about the books; he's worried about his soul.

The pacing is very leisurely, almost to a fault. Sometimes you’re left waiting for a reaction shot that never quite lands with the weight the movie thinks it has. There’s a lot of polite, stiff-upper-lip dialogue that feels like it’s masking way more than it’s saying. ☕

It’s not a masterpiece, and it definitely won't change your life. But for a black-and-white flick about a guy who just wants to feel useful again? It’s alright. Just don't go in expecting a grand epiphany at the end. It's more of a gentle nudge toward home.

Notes from the couch:

• The lighting in the department store scenes is surprisingly sharp.
• I really wanted Mr. Cohen to actually buy that little shop, even if it made no sense.
• The way he looks at the staff is both pitying and appreciative.
• Some of the side characters are barely there, which is fine, but still.
• The whole 'save the day' ending feels a bit rushed compared to the slow start.