Scherben bringen Glück: A dusty, charming little artifact

Is this worth your time?

If you're looking for something fast or flashy, look away now. Scherben bringen Glück is a slow, rhythmic walk through a house of cards. You’ll like it if you enjoy watching actors who clearly grew up on the stage. You’ll probably hate it if you need a plot that actually goes somewhere before the hour mark. 🕰️

There is a specific kind of stillness in these older films that modern movies just can't seem to replicate. It’s not just the pacing; it’s the way people stand in a room. They don't fidget. They wait for their line.

Notes from the couch

Karin Hardt has this way of looking at a doorway that tells you everything you need to know about her character's mood. It’s subtle, maybe even a bit accidental. There’s a scene involving a broken dish—the titular 'shards'—that lasts way longer than it has any right to. 🍽️

It honestly felt like the director forgot to yell 'cut.' It wasn't annoying, just... strange. It gave the moment a weird, lingering weight that felt more human than a scripted reaction.

Sometimes the film feels like it’s struggling to keep its own momentum. It reminds me a bit of the aimless, wandering energy in Martin Eden, where the atmosphere does more heavy lifting than the dialogue. Not that the writing is bad, it’s just very... of its era.

• The lighting in the hallway scenes is surprisingly moody for what I assume was a pretty low-budget production.
• Curt Bois is clearly having a better time than everyone else in the frame.
• There's a moment where a shadow on the wall moves, but the person casting it doesn't. Weird, right?

The dialogue is thick with that old-fashioned theatricality. Every sentence is a full paragraph. It’s exhausting if you try to follow every nuance, so I just let it wash over me. It’s better that way.

Watching this made me think about Only a Husband. There’s a similar vibe of domestic claustrophobia where you’re just waiting for someone to finally lose their temper. It’s not a masterpiece, and it doesn't try to be. It’s just a slice of something that happened a long time ago. 🎞️

Maybe it’s not for everyone. But if you’ve got a rainy Sunday and you’re tired of CGI, this is a decent enough place to hide for a while.