Note: AKA "The 1002nd ruse" Evgenii Bauer is now best well known than 20 years ago. His 26 films still "alive" are risen now little by little in DVD. This brief comedy(about 18 minutes) is a surprise for all who have discovered this truly cinematic genius recently because of his tone, close to Lubitsch, Demille or La Cava silent comedies and far away from those enigmatic,tragic, hopeless "After death", "Daydreams" or "Silent witnesses". Especially wonderful the outdoor scenes, like it happens always in his movies, full of life and grace. Recommended like Dreyer's "The parson's widow" to know another side of one of the greatest directors of the silent era.
2 Reviews
Bauer's Lighter Side
Cineanalyst2 November 2007
This is quite a departure from the remainder of the other available films by Bauer, but, reportedly, he made other comedies as well. This, "The 1002nd Ruse", is a domestic comedy featuring Bauer's wife. It's a silly short film that makes fun of infidelity and involves a married couple who enjoy trying to outwit the other and make a fool out of the other. It's competently made, but, overall, not very interesting. Bauer's tragedies, especially the ones demonstrating an obsession with death: such as "After Death", "Daydreams" and "The Dying Swan", are where Bauer's true genius lay. I do like, however, that "The 1002nd Ruse" begins with the husband directly addressing the audience; it sets up the obvious and overacting style, which, perhaps because of this introduction, doesn't seem too distractive here. There are also some keyhole POV shots.
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