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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Victor and Victoria remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school German cinema that doesn't feel like a museum piece, you'll probably have a good time here. It’s light on its feet and surprisingly funny. If you hate black-and-white films or stories that hinge on 'everyone is just a little bit confused' tropes, skip it. You’ll be bored to tears.
Watching Renate Müller work is something else. She’s got this way of holding her face that tells you everything before she even opens her mouth. The whole premise is essentially a house of cards built on a wig and a tuxedo, but she makes it feel grounded. It’s not just a gag about gender; it’s about the sheer exhaustion of keeping a lie going when your heart is trying to ruin your plans.
There’s a scene in the cabaret that really stuck with me. The lighting is harsh, almost unflattering, and you can see the sweat on the performers. It feels real. Not like a studio set, but like a place where people actually went to drink cheap beer and forget their lives for a couple of hours.
The pacing is… well, it’s not perfect. Sometimes it meanders for a bit too long in the dressing rooms, and the supporting cast occasionally feels like they wandered in from Official Officers by mistake. They have this stiff, theatrical energy that clashes with the lead’s more relaxed vibe. It’s an odd choice, but it gives the movie a weird, lopsided charm.
I found myself thinking about how much of this felt like a predecessor to later screwball comedies. It doesn't have the frantic energy of The Jazz Age, but it shares that same DNA of 'everything is falling apart but it’s fine.' Mostly.
Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. Does it try to be? Definitely not. It just wants to tell a story about someone trying to pay the rent and accidentally becoming a local legend. Honestly, that’s plenty for me. 🎤🎭
