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7.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Wonderful Lies of Nina Petrovna remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a couple of hours and want to see someone's face tell a thousand stories without saying a single word, you should put this on. It is absolutely worth it if you like those big, heavy silent dramas that feel like they were filmed in a dream. But look, if you can't stand slow pacing or actors who stare intensely into the distance for a bit too long, you’ll probably find it annoying.
Brigitte Helm is the whole reason this movie works. Most people know her as the robot from Metropolis, but here she is so much more... human. You can see the exact moment her heart breaks in the back of her eyes while she's trying to smile at a party.
The story is pretty simple, honestly. Nina is the kept woman of this big-shot Colonel, and she’s got everything—the jewelry, the house, the status. Then Michael walks in. He’s a cadet, young and a bit naive, and suddenly the jewelry doesn't feel so heavy anymore.
I loved the scene where they first meet. It’s not some big explosive moment. It’s just eyes and shadows. The lighting in these old UFA films is just something else, man. It makes the rooms feel like they’re closing in on her.
There is this one bit where Michael is trying to be all brave and noble. He looks so small in his uniform compared to the Colonel. The Colonel, played by Warwick Ward, has this way of standing that just screams ownership. It’s creepy but you can't look away.
The movie gets really good when the lies start piling up. Nina has to pretend she doesn't care about the money, but she knows exactly what happens to women who lose their protection in this world. It reminded me a bit of the atmosphere in Revelation, where the stakes feel so much more personal than political.
There is a specific shot of Nina’s hands as she’s packing a bag. Her fingers are shaking just a tiny bit. I don't think that was scripted; it felt like Brigitte Helm was actually feeling the panic of the character. It’s the kind of small thing you miss if you’re looking at your phone.
The middle of the movie drags a little, I'll admit. There’s a lot of walking through snowy streets. And some of the side characters, like the other soldiers, kind of blend together after a while. They all have the same mustache, I swear.
I found myself thinking about Low Tide while watching the outdoor scenes. Not because they’re similar movies, but because of that feeling of being trapped by your surroundings. The snow in Nina Petrovna feels like a wall.
The ending is... well, I won't ruin it. But it’s heavy. It’s the kind of ending that makes you sit in silence for a minute after the screen goes black. You can almost feel the cold coming off the film.
One thing that felt weird was the way the subtitles—or intertitles, I guess—sometimes didn't match the intensity of the actors. Like, Nina would look like her world was ending, and the text would just say, "I am sad." It’s a bit of a disconnect that happens with these old silents.
The costumes are incredible, though. The way the fabric moves when Nina walks through the ballroom... it’s like the clothes have their own personality. It’s much more lush than something like The Show, which felt a bit more frantic and less composed.
I noticed a stray hair on the lens during one of the close-ups of the Colonel. It was distracting for a second, but then it kind of added to the grit of the whole thing. It’s not perfect, and that’s why it feels real.
Michael von Newlinsky is in this too, but he doesn't have much to do. He’s just kind of there in the background. Most of the supporting cast feels like they’re just furniture for Brigitte Helm to act around. That’s fine, though, because she’s a powerhouse.
If you're looking for a happy-go-lucky time, this isn't it. It’s a movie about the cost of being honest in a world that rewards lies. It’s beautiful and frustrating and a little bit too long, but I’m glad I watched it.
The way she looks at her reflection in the mirror toward the end... that’s going to stay with me for a while. She’s looking for the person she used to be, but that girl is gone. It’s just gut-wrenching.
Anyway, go watch it if you want to feel something. Just make sure you have some tissues nearby, because it gets pretty bleak. ❄️
IMDb 6
1926
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