The Girl Irene: A Quiet, Dusty Curiosity

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, it depends on how much patience you have for movies that move at the speed of a gentle stroll. If you’re a fan of old-school character studies, you’ll dig the performances here, especially how much they manage to say with just a look. But if you hate films that feel like they belong to a different century—and, well, this one sort of does—you’ll be checking your phone within twenty minutes.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s not a disaster. It’s just... there. Like a piece of furniture you didn't notice until you tripped over it. 🕰️

Small moments that stuck

There’s this one scene where a character is just arranging a tea set, and it goes on for, I don’t know, an eternity? It’s not necessarily deep, but it’s strangely hypnotic. You start to wonder if they’re ever going to actually pour the drink or just keep moving the spoon three inches to the left.

It reminded me a bit of the quiet, deliberate pacing you find in Traum von Schönbrunn, though with a lot less flair. These actors really know how to hold a room, even when the script feels like it’s running out of steam.

• The lighting in the library scene is weirdly dark, like they ran out of bulbs.
• I swear the background music is just the same three notes on a loop for a solid five minutes.
• The dialogue is so polite it almost feels like a threat.

I caught myself thinking about Hans in allen Gassen while watching this. Maybe it's just the vibe of the era, but there’s this specific, slightly stifling energy that both films share. It’s like everyone is afraid to raise their voice, which makes the few times they do feel oddly jarring.

The verdict (sort of)

You can tell the movie is trying hard to make you feel for these people, and half the time it works. The other half, you’re just watching people walk through hallways looking vaguely concerned. 🤷‍♂️

It’s not as energetic as Viva Villa!, that’s for sure. It’s a bit of a relic, but if you’re in the mood to just sit back and let a story happen to you—without needing to solve a mystery or root for a hero—it’s not the worst way to spend a Tuesday night.

Just don’t expect it to change your life. Sometimes, a movie is just a movie.