DbcultAccessing Vault...
Cult Review
Senior Film Conservator
Honestly, you should watch this if you’re the kind of person who likes old-fashioned French movies where everyone talks at once and the sets look like they might fall over if someone sneezes. It’s a great 'rainy Sunday' movie.
If you hate movies where people break into song or if black-and-white grain makes your eyes hurt, stay far away. It’s definitely not a masterpiece, but it’s charming in a very specific, dusty way.
I went into this one mostly because I recognized the title from that famous song. You know the one—it’s been in a million commercials and other movies.
The movie itself is basically a long version of that song's vibe. It’s sentimental and a little bit silly.
Elise Maillé is the lead here and she has these huge, expressive eyes that the camera just loves. She plays the role with a lot of heart, even when the script feels like it was written on a napkin during lunch.
Roger Tréville is the romantic lead, and he’s... fine. He’s got that 1930s mustache that makes every man look exactly the same, like he could be in The Matinee Girl or any other romance from that decade.
But the real reason to watch this—if there is one—is Julien Carette. He’s got this nervous, twitchy energy that makes every scene he’s in about ten times more interesting.
He reminds me of the chaotic comedy you see in stuff like Here Comes Cookie, where the plot doesn't matter as much as the weird faces the actors are making.
There is this one scene in a dressing room where the lighting is just slightly off. It makes the actress's shadow look like a giant monster on the wall for a second, and I don't think they meant to do that.
Also, the sound quality is pretty rough in the version I saw. There’s this constant hissing sound, like someone is frying bacon in the next room throughout the whole movie.
I actually liked the hiss after a while. It made it feel like I was watching a secret broadcast from the past.
The way they handle the 'misunderstandings' is so dated it’s almost funny. Like, if two people just sat down for five minutes and talked like normal humans, the movie would be over in twenty minutes.
But then we wouldn't get the songs, right? The music is actually pretty catchy, even if the lyrics are basically just 'I love you, do you love me?' over and over.
It’s a lot like El precio de un beso in that way. It’s all about the feeling rather than a deep story.
I noticed a dog in the background of one street scene that looked very confused. He just stands there staring at the camera while the actors are doing their big emotional bit.
I spent about three minutes just watching the dog instead of listening to the dialogue. He was a good dog.
The pacing is a bit weird. It starts off really fast, then it just stops in the middle for a long sequence where nothing really happens.
It’s not like One Minute to Play where there’s a clear goal. This is more about wandering around Paris and looking stylishly sad.
"Tell me about love... even if it's a lie."
That’s basically the whole theme. It’s about wanting to be lied to as long as the lie sounds pretty.
The costumes are incredible, though. The dresses Elise Maillé wears are so structured they look like they could stand up on their own.
I wonder if they were actually comfortable or if she was just holding her breath the whole time. Beauty is pain, I guess.
Some of the jokes don't really land anymore. There’s a lot of physical comedy that feels a bit forced, like people tripping over rugs just because the scene needed a 'moment'.
It feels a bit like The Honorable Mr. Buggs where the humor is very much of its specific time and place.
I don't think this is a movie that's gonna change your life. It’s not deep or heavy like Der Weg des Todes.
But it’s got a warmth to it. It’s like finding an old photo album in an attic and looking at people you don't know, but you can tell they were having a good time when the picture was taken.
If you’re looking for something profound, look elsewhere. If you want to see some 1930s French people be dramatic about nothing, this is your jam.
It’s flawed and the film stock is falling apart, but I’m glad I watched it. Sometimes a little fluff is okay. 🍷
One last thing—look out for the scene with the telephone. It’s the most 1935 thing I’ve ever seen. The way they hold the receiver like it’s a piece of holy jewelry is hilarious.
Anyway, it's a decent watch. Not great, not terrible. Just... nice.
IMDb —
1918
Community
Log in to comment.
