The Story of a Cheat: Sacha Guitry’s Winking Masterpiece

Is it worth your time?

If you have the patience for a film that basically spends 80 minutes talking directly into your ear, then yes. It is pure delight for fans of old-school wit. If you need explosions or a plot that actually goes anywhere in a straight line, you’ll probably want to turn it off after ten minutes. It is very French, very talky, and remarkably unbothered by the conventions of narrative cinema.

The whole thing starts with a narrator, Sacha Guitry, who is essentially the soul of the movie. He’s telling us his life story, and he does it with this mischievous sparkle that makes you forget he’s technically a terrible person. You find yourself nodding along even when he’s describing his worst decisions.

The pacing is… well, it’s not really pacing at all. It’s more of a stroll. Sometimes it feels like he’s just riffing on whatever happened that day. There’s a specific scene where he talks about his childhood greed that is just so precise. It hits that weird, selfish honesty that most movies try to smooth over.

I couldn’t help but think about how much more fun this is compared to the self-serious tone of something like Sanders of the River. Guitry doesn't care about the grandeur of history. He cares about a good dinner and a well-timed lie.

Odd little observations:

• The way he looks at the camera is almost insulting, but you can’t look away.
• The supporting characters sometimes look like they’re just waiting for their cue to leave the frame.
• Some of the editing transitions are so abrupt they’re practically comedic.

It’s funny, the way the movie treats morality. It doesn't judge the protagonist. It just shrugs. If you’re looking for a lesson in character growth, you are definitely in the wrong place. Our hero learns nothing, and frankly, I think he’s better for it.

There is a segment in the middle that drags a bit—it's about his time in the gambling halls—but then he drops a one-liner and you’re back in. It’s a very imperfect movie, honestly. It doesn't have the polish of those big studio features, but it has a pulse. That is worth more to me than any high-budget production.

If you liked the vibe of Let's Do Things, you might find this a bit more sophisticated, but with the same playful spirit. It’s a movie that knows it’s a movie. It’s not trying to trick you into believing it's real life. It’s just trying to entertain you while the wine runs out. 🍷