Humoresque

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Nick M An immigrant family gets by as well as they can in a New York City "ghetto". Money from their questionable goods shop keeps food on the table, but mama's dreams catapult them into comfort after she insists in cultivating a love of music in her son Leon, who wants to buy a violin on a whim for his ninth birthday. Leon becomes a musical prodigy, but the family's happiness is put to the test when he decides to enlist as an infantryman in WWI. The title is taken from Dvořák's instrumental composition, specifically the seventh movement, which Leon's mama says sounds as if it's "[c]rying to hide its laughing--and laughing to hide its crying." The director attempts to weave this emotional theme into the entire picture, and with some success. The family is far from perfect, but they make due with what they have. More importantly, their genuine love for one another is ever present. This is a both a strength and weakness for the film. Its moments of touching warmth are the picture's most compelling feature, but they are indulged to the point that they take pride of place over both the narrative and character development. I enjoyed seeing interactions that reminded me of my own family life a century later. It's comforting to find examples that remind us that what really matters doesn't change much through the years. Contemporaneous audiences clearly found these moments touching as well, because Humoresque was voted as Photoplay magazine's first Medal of Honor winner. This is considered to be the first prestigious award in cinematic achievement, and was bestowed upon just one film per year starting in 1920. Its selection criteria were used as a basis for those of the Academy Awards some years later. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/28/24 Full Review Audience Member ok silent but i prefer the 1946 version best Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Humoresque

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