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6.2/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.2/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Une idée folle remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you’ve got a soft spot for 1930s French cinema that moves at the speed of a caffeinated squirrel. If you want a movie that makes logical sense, skip it. If you want to see Arletty looking unimpressed while everyone else loses their minds, you’re in the right place.
There’s a specific kind of frenetic energy here that reminds me a bit of the silent era, but with talking. Everyone is always running into a room just as someone else is running out. It’s exhausting, but in a fun, 'why is this happening' kind of way.
The plot is… well, it’s a blur of people pretending to be other people. I stopped trying to track who was married to whom about twenty minutes in. It felt like watching a game of musical chairs where the chairs were made of wet cardboard. 😅
I couldn't help but think about how much more grounded something like A Little Brother of the Rich feels in comparison. This movie isn't trying to be deep. It’s just trying to keep the plate spinning before it crashes.
There is this one scene where a door opens and shuts so many times I actually started counting. It’s a silly little detail, but it stuck with me. You can almost feel the actors getting tired of the choreography.
It lacks the punchiness of The Chocolate Soldier, but it has a weird charm. It’s definitely not a masterpiece. It’s just a chaotic relic that somehow survived the decades. Sometimes, that’s enough.
Don't look for a lesson here. There isn't one. Just enjoy the shouting. It's a loud, messy, and occasionally brilliant little headache.