Pretending to be Royalty in Un jour viendra

Is it worth your time?

If you like old-school French cinema that doesn't demand you think too hard, you'll probably enjoy Un jour viendra. It is light, fluffy, and moves fast enough that you don't really notice the plot holes until the credits roll. If you prefer gritty realism or complex character arcs, you’ll likely find this whole thing a bit tedious. 🙄

Watching this feels a lot like flipping through a dusty fashion magazine from the 1930s. There’s this specific energy to the way the leads carry themselves that just doesn't exist anymore. It’s not quite as sharp as The Csardas Princess, but it shares that same DNA of people putting on airs.

Small moments that caught my eye

There is a scene involving a car dealership early on that is just delightful. It’s barely three minutes long, but the way the lead actress handles the transition from 'working girl' to 'pretend aristocrat' is surprisingly nuanced. She doesn't just change her clothes; her whole posture shifts.

Then again, there’s a bit in the middle where the dialogue gets so stilted it feels like the actors are reading from cue cards held by someone behind the camera. It’s weirdly charming, though. Like they all knew they were in a bit of a trifle.

• The costumes are frankly better than the plot.
• Some of the background extras look like they’d rather be anywhere else.
• The pacing in the second act takes a weird dive—it's like the director realized they needed to fill time.

I couldn't help but compare it to Marriage in Name Only while I was watching. Both films rely so heavily on the idea that you can just 'become' someone else if you have the right hat. It's a fun lie to believe for an hour or so.

I wouldn't call this a masterpiece. It’s more of a cinematic snack. You eat it, you enjoy the texture, and then you move on with your day. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need. 🎞️