Ombres et lumières Review: A Very Dramatic Silent Melodrama

If you have about an hour and want to see a girl get hit by every piece of bad luck possible, Ombres et lumières is worth a look. It’s a silent film from back in the day that feels like a soap opera turned up to eleven. You’ll probably like it if you enjoy those old stories where the villains are purely evil for no reason. If you hate movies where problems are solved by literal miracles, you should probably stay away.

The story starts with Cécile. She is blind, which the movie reminds us of constantly through some very dramatic acting. She’s in love with Jean-Claude, but his dad is the richest farmer in town and he is just not having it.

The dad is honestly the most interesting part because he’s so committed to being a jerk. He doesn’t just say "no" to the marriage. He sends his son away to a conservatory far away just to keep them apart. Then he starts stealing Cécile’s letters like a cartoon villain. It’s kind of funny how much effort he puts into being mean.

While Jean-Claude is away playing music or whatever you do at a conservatory, Cécile’s life falls apart. Her parents die. The movie doesn't spend much time on their deaths, they just kind of poof and they're gone.

She ends up living with an uncle who is a total mess. He spends his time drinking and being a "brute," according to the title cards. There is a scene where he has a fit of delirium tremens that is actually pretty scary for an old movie. He shakes a lot and then just dies. It’s a very dark turn for a movie that looks so bright and sunny in the outdoor scenes.

The Struggle is Real

• The dad is a world-class hater.
• The uncle's house looks like it smells like old socks.
• Cécile has the worst luck in cinematic history.

After the uncle dies, Cécile is homeless and begging. There’s a shot of her on the street that feels really lonely. You can tell the filmmakers wanted you to feel bad, and it works. It reminds me a bit of the vibe in The Little Match Girl, but maybe a little less depressing because you know a happy ending is coming.

Eventually, she ends up in a hospital. This is where the movie gets really religious. She prays to the Virgin Mary, and I mean she really prays. The lighting in this scene is actually pretty cool, hence the title "Shadows and Lights."

And then, boom. Her sight is back. It’s a medical miracle, or a divine one, depending on how you look at it. The doctor just kind of stands there while she realizes she can see again. It happens so fast you might miss it if you blink.

I noticed that when she gets her sight back, she doesn't seem that surprised. She just looks happy. If I hadn't seen anything my whole life and suddenly saw a hospital room, I’d probably be freaking out more. But the acting style back then was different, I guess.

Jean-Claude finally comes back and they reunite. The dad is nowhere to be seen in the final moments, which is fine by me. I hope he’s still mad on his farm somewhere. It’s a lot like the ending of The Springtime of Life where things just sort of work out because the plot demands it.

"Her fervent prayers were finally answered."

The pacing is a bit weird. The middle part with the drunk uncle feels like it lasts forever. Then the hospital and the miracle happen in what feels like five minutes. It’s not a balanced movie, but real life isn’t balanced either, right?

I liked the outdoor shots of the village. They look very authentic, like they just pointed the camera at a real place and let the actors walk around. It gives the movie a grounded feel that makes the crazy plot points easier to swallow.

If you've seen Love in the Desert, you know how these old romances go. They are very heavy on the longing looks and very light on actual conversation. Since it's a silent movie, that makes sense.

Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. But it’s a good example of how movies used to tell stories. They didn't care about being realistic. They just wanted to make you cry and then make you cheer.

One thing that bugged me was Jean-Claude. He’s kind of a wet blanket. He just goes where his dad tells him to go. He doesn't really fight for Cécile until the very end. I wish he had more of a backbone, honestly.

Anyway, it’s a decent watch if you're into film history. Or if you just want to see a mean farmer get what’s coming to him. The restoration I saw was a bit grainy, but it added to the atmosphere. Shadows and lights indeed.

The ending is sweet, if a bit cheesy. They are finally together and everything is fine. You just have to ignore the fact that her parents are still dead and her uncle died screaming at invisible bugs. But hey, that’s show business! 🎬