Why you should probably watch the chaotic mess that is Romeo i Julcia

Is this actually worth the watch?

If you're into dusty, black-and-white comedies that feel like they were filmed in a theater rather than on a set, then maybe. It’s definitely for people who like to see where the roots of slapstick really took hold in early European cinema. But if you're looking for a faithful adaptation or something that moves at modern speeds? Yeah, stay away. This will likely bore you to tears.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream of the 1930s. It’s got that jittery, high-energy vibe where people talk really fast and move even faster. It’s not exactly deep, but it’s weirdly magnetic.

The chaotic energy

Watching this made me think about how much film has changed since, say, Horse Feathers. Both rely on this frantic, almost exhausting level of performance. Sometimes the actors are so loud you can practically hear the film stock buzzing. Especially during the group scenes where it feels like nobody knows where to stand.

There is this one specific moment where someone walks through a doorway and just… stops. They don't do anything. They just stand there for five seconds while the conversation happens around them. It felt so human, so weirdly unscripted, like the actor forgot they were supposed to leave the frame.

• The lighting is surprisingly moody for a comedy.
• The costumes look like they were pulled out of a very expensive attic.
• The dialogue is basically a rapid-fire machine gun of Polish puns.

It’s not trying to be a The Red Dance or anything that takes itself seriously. It’s just trying to get a laugh, and honestly, half the time it doesn't even care if you get the joke. It just keeps moving.

The pacing is all over the place. Sometimes it feels like we’re sprinting through the plot, and other times it just hangs out in a living room while people stare at each other. It’s not perfect. It’s actually kind of messy.

But there’s a charm to that. It feels like a real movie that was made by real people who were probably just trying to finish the day's work and go home. You can tell they had fun with it, even if the result is a bit of a scramble.

Definitely a strange little artifact to dig up. Don't go in expecting a masterpiece. Just go in expecting to be a little bit confused and occasionally amused by how much effort they put into being silly. 🎭