Why not watch Perché no? It's weirdly charming and very Italian.

Is this worth your afternoon?

If you have a soft spot for dusty Italian silents and don't mind reading a lot of title cards, then yeah, it's worth a look. If you need explosions or a plot that makes total sense in 2024, you'll probably hate it within ten minutes.

I found a copy of Perché no? (1923) recently and decided to just dive in. The title translates to "Why Not?" which seems to be the philosophy the director used for every single scene choice. 🍷

It’s one of those movies where you can tell the actors were having a bit too much fun with the dramatic gestures. Maria Jacobini is the big draw here, and she doesn't disappoint if you like intense staring.

She has this way of looking at a letter like it just told her a dark secret about her ancestors. It’s amazing. It reminds me a bit of the vibe in Giuli, but with more expensive-looking furniture.

The plot is a bit of a tangle about social status and who is allowed to love who. It’s typical for the era, but there's a specific lightness to it that keeps it from being too depressing.

There is this one scene in a garden where Sergio Fonsilli walks in looking like he’s forgotten why he entered the frame. He just stands there for a second, adjusts his jacket, and then starts acting. It’s so human and weirdly relatable.

The lighting in the interior scenes is... well, it’s a bit of a gamble. Sometimes it looks beautiful and moody, and other times it looks like they only had one lamp and it was dying. 🕯️

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Perché no? (1930) through its definitive frames.

I noticed a stray cat in the background of a street scene about halfway through. I don't think it was supposed to be there, but it gave the movie more life than some of the actual supporting cast.

Speaking of the cast, Oreste Bilancia shows up and he’s always a treat. He has this face that was just built for silent comedy, even when the scene is supposed to be serious.

Some of the pacing feels off, especially compared to something like The Wild Olive. It lingers on faces for about 10 seconds too long, like the editor fell asleep or really wanted us to see the makeup work.

The costumes are the real winner here. The hats are huge. Like, distractingly huge. I spent five minutes wondering how Marcella Sabbatini could even see out from under one of them.

There's a bit of a subplot involving a misunderstanding at a party. It’s the kind of thing that could be solved with a two-minute conversation, but instead, it lasts the whole second act. 🤦‍♂️

It’s not as polished as New York Nights, but there is a certain heart to it. It feels like a group of friends got together with some very nice cameras and a lot of wine.

I think my favorite part was a sequence near the end where everyone is just walking in and out of doors. It’s almost like a proto-farce, but they’re playing it totally straight.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Perché no? (1930) through its definitive frames.

The writing by Camillo Antona Traversi has some clever bits in the title cards. One of them made me actually laugh out loud, though I might have just been tired. It was something about a man's heart being like a cheap hotel.

It’s definitely a better time than Dangerous Waters, which I found a bit too dry. This one has a bit of spark to it, even if that spark is mostly Maria Jacobini's eyebrows.

You can see the influence of American films of the time, but the Italian flair is unmistakable. Everyone is just so much more expressive with their hands. It’s like they’re conducting an invisible orchestra while they talk about marriage.

The film ends rather abruptly. I wasn't quite ready for the credits to roll, but maybe they just ran out of film? It feels like there should of been one more scene to wrap up the sister's story.

I’ve seen a lot of these 1920s dramas, and this one stands out mostly because it doesn't try to be a "masterpiece." It just wants to be a good time. It’s more like Es mi hombre in that regard—it knows what it is.

Did I mention the shoes? There is a close-up of some shoes that lasts forever. I still don't know why. Maybe the director really liked the leather work?

Anyway, if you're looking for a slice of 1923 life, Perché no? is a decent pick. It’s messy, it’s a bit too long in the middle, but it’s got personality for days. 🎬

Just don't expect a life-changing experience. It’s just a movie about people being people, a hundred years ago. And honestly, they weren't that different from us. They just had better hats.