Sad Jokes

Sad Jokes is a quietly affecting film that doesn't spell everything out. Instead, it lives in the in-between moments - the pauses, the silences, the small gestures where real humanity reveals itself.

Haley Louise Jones delivers a remarkable performance in a kitchen scene that lingers. It's not about big emotional outbursts but subtle shifts in expression and tone - the way she holds back, the quiet frustration, and the flicker of hope beneath it all. It's a reminder that sometimes the most powerful moments happen when nothing much seems to be happening at all.

The film carries a gentle sadness, but it's never heavy or overdone. There's an underlying humor and a sense of optimism running through it. The characters stumble, miscommunicate, and struggle, but they keep trying - and that's what makes the film feel so genuine. They are flawed, but you want to forgive them.

Sad Jokes doesn't demand attention; it simply exists, offering a quiet and thoughtful look at human connection.

For his second movie as director, Fabian Stumm has created a story that oscillates between laughter and emotion. He plays the lead role: a gay German filmmaker juggling the upbringing of a child, his work and his love affairs. The catchphrase could be: "Life is hard, but it is better when we laugh through it". I liked his offbeat humour and how he portrays his characters with tenderness. The sequences with random people telling sad jokes fit in quite well with the narrative. I remember this one: "What do you call a sad coffee? A depresso". However, not everything works in the film. The purely dramatic scenes are less effective than the funny ones. I also had the impression of watching a succession of vignettes, rather than a full-fledged story. Overall, I was a little disappointed, especially as I enjoyed his previous feature, « Bones and names ».