Quelle drôle de gosse! is pure, frantic 1930s chaos

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, if you have a soft spot for 1930s French comedies where people talk very fast and doors are slammed with professional frequency, you’ll dig this. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it doesn't care if you remember the plot five minutes after the credits roll.

If you prefer your cinema with heavy stakes or quiet, contemplative pauses, stay away. This movie is a loud, messy room that refuses to be cleaned.

The vibe

Danielle Darrieux is basically the entire movie. She plays Lucie with this infectious, slightly annoying energy that feels like she’s trying to wake up the furniture. Watching her disrupt Gaston’s life is like watching someone try to teach a cat to tap dance. It’s silly, sure, but you can’t look away.

The whole house feels like a stage set, which it obviously is. There’s a distinct lack of 'real' air in the scenes, but that adds to the manic, theater-kid energy of the whole production. It’s not trying to be The Case of Lady Camber, and thank goodness for that.

Small observations

• The way Gaston just sighs at everything. He looks like he’s aged ten years in ten minutes.
• The outfits. Everyone is dressed like they’re expecting a gala, even when they’re just arguing in a hallway.
• There’s a specific bit where a character trips over their own feet that felt surprisingly unscripted, or maybe they were just tired. I loved it.
• The pacing is frantic. It’s less like a story and more like a series of people being surprised by each other.

Final thoughts

It’s not perfect. Sometimes the shouting gets a bit much and you just want everyone to sit down for a glass of water. It’s nowhere near the weird, experimental energy you get in something like Bismillah, but it hits the spot if you want something vintage and breezy.

Don't look for deep meaning. Just enjoy the chaos. 👒