Pardon, tévedtem: A Hungarian Comedy That Just Keeps Moving

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for mid-century European comedies where everyone is yelling at each other in a delightful way, you’ll probably find something to like here. If you need a plot that makes sense, or at least stays on the tracks for more than ten minutes at a time, you’re going to be frustrated by the second act. 🍿

It’s the kind of movie that feels like it was written in a single afternoon fueled by too much coffee and a desire to see people run through doors. Some of the slapstick bits feel like they were pulled straight from The Busy Beavers, but with more formal wear.

Honestly, the pacing is all over the place. One moment we are in a tense social setting, and the next, characters are practically tripping over their own feet just to keep the energy up. It’s not necessarily bad, but it is exhausting.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Pardon, tévedtem (1933) through its definitive frames.

Notes from the couch

• The lighting in the cafe scene is weirdly harsh, making everyone look like they’ve been awake for three days.
• S.Z. Sakall is doing so much heavy lifting here. You can see him trying to keep the scene grounded while everyone else is playing in a different genre entirely.
• There is a specific reaction shot about thirty minutes in—I won't say which one—that lingers just long enough to turn from 'funny' to 'I hope they yell cut soon.'

The dialogue is snappy, sure, but it feels like they were worried the audience would get bored if someone wasn't talking every two seconds. I kept waiting for a quiet moment to just settle in, but the film treats silence like a personal insult. It’s very busy.

It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in The Gilded Lily, though this one lacks that specific bit of polish. It’s messy, but it’s a friendly kind of mess.

I caught myself looking at the background extras more than the leads at one point. There’s a guy in the back of the ballroom scene who is just completely disinterested in the entire plot. He’s just standing there, waiting for the craft services table to open. Relatable.

Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it a good way to spend a rainy afternoon? Probably. Just don’t expect it to change your life or anything.