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7.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Viennese Waltz remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for the kind of movies that feel like a dusty postcard from 1930s Europe, you’ll probably find something to enjoy here. It’s light, it’s airy, and it doesn’t ask much from your brain cells. But if you hate musical fluff or get bored when a movie doesn't have a clear point, just skip it. Honestly, you'd probably have more fun watching The Smiling Lieutenant if you want that specific brand of old-world whimsy.
The whole thing feels like it’s held together by stage makeup and sheer willpower. There’s a scene about halfway through—I think it’s in a ballroom, obviously—where the camera just hangs on the dancers for what feels like an eternity. It’s not graceful. It’s just… a lot of feet shuffling around. You can almost see the director sweating behind the lens.
Anton Pointner is doing his best, but there’s a stiffness to the way he carries himself that makes the romantic tension feel more like a business meeting. When he looks at the leading lady, he looks like he’s trying to remember if he left the oven on at home. It’s a bit funny, actually.
Some of the supporting cast are clearly having a better time than the leads. There’s a guy in the background—I didn't catch his name in the credits—who is just aggressively drinking champagne in every single shot he's in. It became the highlight of the movie for me.
Seriously, watch the guy in the blue coat during the third act. He is living his best life while everyone else is busy reciting lines.
There isn't much to say about the plot that wouldn't spoil the fun, but it’s basically just people falling in and out of love because a violin played a slightly sad note. It’s predictable in a way that’s almost comforting, I guess. It doesn't have the grit of Irrlichter der Tiefe, but then again, it’s not really trying to be anything other than a sugar rush.
The music is fine. It’s standard waltz stuff. It won’t change your life, but it doesn't make your ears bleed either. It just sort of exists in the background, filling up the silence between the moments where someone looks wistfully out of a window.
At the end of the day, Viennese Waltz is a movie you put on while you’re folding laundry. It’s not meant to be analyzed. It’s just meant to be there. And that’s okay. Sometimes, that’s all we need. 🎻✨
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