The Parisian: An Old-School Drift Through Paris

Is it worth your time?

If you like movies that feel like a dusty postcard you found in an attic, you'll probably dig this. It’s not exactly a thrill ride. In fact, if you need a plot that moves faster than a slow walk through a park, you should probably skip it. This is for the people who enjoy watching actors just… exist in a room. ☕

Elissa Landi is doing a lot of heavy lifting here with just her eyes. There’s a scene about halfway through where she’s sitting by a window, and the light hits her face in this really specific, unflattering way, but she doesn't move. She just stays there. It’s the most honest moment in the whole film.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Parisian (1931) through its definitive frames.

Honestly, the pacing is a mess. Sometimes it feels like the camera forgot it was supposed to be filming a story. It just drifts. It’s kind of hypnotic, though. Much more interesting than the stiff dialogue in The Men Women Love, which tried too hard to be clever.

The bits that stuck

• The background extras in the café scene look like they were told to 'act French' and just gave up halfway through.
• Adolphe Menjou has this mustache that deserves its own credit. It’s distracting in the best way.
• The sound mixing is… well, let's just say you can hear the floorboards creak more than the actors.
• There is a lingering shot of a telephone that lasts way longer than it needs to. It’s almost funny.

It reminds me a bit of the aimless energy in Balançoires, though this feels slightly more self-serious. The movie doesn't really know how to end, so it just sort of… stops. It didn't bother me. Not everything needs a big bow tied on top.

If you’re looking for a tight, punchy script, look elsewhere. This is pure atmosphere and shadows. Grab a coffee, turn off your phone, and don't try to solve the plot. It’s not that kind of movie. 🎞️