Magnificent and surprising film, unfortunately little known. One of the relatively obscure jewels of silent cinema. In the midst of the effervescence of the French avant-garde, the talented Ivan Mozzhukhin came up with this hilarious, inventive and extravagant fantasy, a mixture of the most diverse genres: mystery, comedy, crime, melodrama.
The premise seems to be to disconcert and misplace the viewer, with infinite visual and narrative ideas, but at the same time, and despite the avant-garde and playful tone, to be interested in some characters and a story. In the first half that balance is achieved in a prodigious way. The second part drifts more towards the sentimental side.
To highlight the extravagant decorations, the setting that can be childish and fun, or dreamlike and threatening, and above all the interpretation of Mozzhukhin, between acrobat, clown and gallant.
The premise seems to be to disconcert and misplace the viewer, with infinite visual and narrative ideas, but at the same time, and despite the avant-garde and playful tone, to be interested in some characters and a story. In the first half that balance is achieved in a prodigious way. The second part drifts more towards the sentimental side.
To highlight the extravagant decorations, the setting that can be childish and fun, or dreamlike and threatening, and above all the interpretation of Mozzhukhin, between acrobat, clown and gallant.