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5.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. When Do We Eat? remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, probably not. Unless you’re a deep-cut film nerd who collects stuff that makes people go, "Wait, they made what in 1934?" If you like your comedies with a side of utter confusion, maybe. But if you hate movies that can't decide if they're a farce, a drama, or just a weird social experiment, you'll want to skip this one.
The whole premise is that this theater troupe is totally broke. Instead of, you know, getting real jobs, they decide the best way to get cash is to start a nudist restaurant. It’s a bold choice for the 1930s, that’s for sure.
There’s this moment where the dialogue drags on for what feels like an eternity. You can almost see the actors looking for a reason to stop talking. It’s not even that the writing is bad, it’s just that the premise is so thin you can see right through it.
It kind of reminds me of the chaotic energy in Hello Baby!, but without the charm. The characters spend so much time running around acting frantic that I started to feel exhausted just watching them.
Some of the background extras look like they wandered in from a different movie entirely. There's one guy in the corner who just stands there for three whole minutes, not eating, not talking, just staring at a wall. I wonder if he ever got paid.
It’s not as interesting as The Silver Cord, which actually has something to say. This movie just sort of exists. It’s like a weird, grainy fever dream that you forget the moment you turn the screen off. I caught myself checking my phone halfway through because the pacing just hit a wall and stayed there.
I wouldn't call it a disaster. It's more of a curiosity. A very, very strange curiosity. 🤷♂️