Symphonie D'Amour: A weirdly charming little relic

Should you watch this?

If you have a soft spot for 1940s musical fluff and don't mind a plot that moves at the speed of a tired horse, you’ll probably find something to like here. If you need grit, modern pacing, or anything remotely resembling a stakes-driven narrative, stay far away. This isn't exactly The Red Kimono, let's put it that way.

Fernand Gravet plays Panard with this wide-eyed, slightly frantic energy that feels like he hasn't slept in a week. Watching him walk around wearing his own advertisements on a sandwich board is a specific kind of tragic comedy that works better than it has any right to. You can tell the movie *really* wants you to feel for his struggle.

The music is, well, it's there. It doesn't break new ground, but it’s pleasant enough to keep the scenes from dragging into a total void. There’s a scene involving the Comedian Harmonists that felt like it was shot on a different planet than the rest of the film, just pure, weird joy for five minutes.

Small things I noticed:

• The lighting in the backstage scenes is suspiciously moody for a lighthearted comedy.
• The way people talk in this movie makes everyone sound like they’re constantly auditioning for a play.
• I’m pretty sure I saw the same background extra three times in the same street scene, but honestly, good for him.

The pacing is a bit of a mess, honestly. Some scenes just kind of end while people are still talking, as if the editor was in a massive rush to get to lunch. It gives the whole thing a jittery, nervous energy that I actually kind of dug.

It’s not as chaotic as Stupid, But Brave, but it has that same feeling of people trying really hard to make a simple joke land. Panard finally getting his show up and running feels like a massive relief, mostly because you just want him to stop carrying that board around.

Is it a classic? Nah. But it’s got enough heart to keep you from turning it off, even when the dialogue gets a little too cheesy for its own good. 🎶