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6.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Sissi remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
So, is this worth your time today? Honestly, only if you are a massive fan of Lotte Reiniger or early animation history. If you want a normal movie with a plot, you will hate this. ✂️
It is basically a 1930s screen saver. Literally.
Historically, this was made to be shown during a scene change for Fritz Kreisler's operetta, also called Sissi. So while some sweaty stagehands were dragging heavy wooden walls across a stage, the audience got to look at this instead of a blank curtain.
Even though it is super short, the paper-cutting detail is pretty crazy. You can see the tiny, delicate edges of the hair and the dresses moving with so much grace.
It has that dreamlike vibe you get from other silent era experiments, like Paris Asleep, though obviously this is much smaller in scope. It just kind of floats by and then it is over.
I love how raw early animation feels. You can almost see the tiny finger smudges on the glass if you look close enough. That is the magic of the handmade stuff.
There is one moment where a figure turns and the silhouette almost gets lost in its own shadow. It is a bit clunky, but honestly, that is why I love it.
If you want a more substantial story from the silent era, you might want to try Jack and the Beanstalk instead. But for a quick hit of shadow puppetry, this one is a neat little curiosity.