So perfectly constructed it can be easy to initially overlook its feeling of spontaneity and human interaction. Even a suicide attempt, framed indirectly by the pop of a light bulb, plays less as black comedy than an impossibly optimistic show of human empathy and interdependence. That its revelation of lovers' identities to each other occurs after all the bright lights have been turned off around them seems so fitting for a film that subtly inverts everything you expect while producing a paragon of generic entertainment.

Wait this movie is set in BUDAPEST? Jimmy Stewart's character is HUNGARIAN???

I’m gonna say something. Nothing too crazy; just wanna declare my position on something. You likely won’t be surprised by this revelation. It’s a pretty common standpoint. A predictable opinion that many hold but not enough seem to share...

I love Jimmy Stewart. 
He’s my favourite actor.

we love a blind mutual pining and enemies to lovers plot line featuring my love jimmy stewart

As adorable as I’ve always found this film, it’s never done much for me visually. But I’ve also always been drawn to that shot of Sullavan and Stewart windowdressing. It stands out right away from the rest of the film because it is lit from underneath. It grabs your attention and then there’s the fact that you have these two characters, sharing a space and an action, yet so far from eachother because they are both so involved in their own little worlds and completely unaware that it’s the same little world. The whole film in a microcosm. Great stuff.

The side characters are given far more layers than I would have expected, which is what takes this from a simple romantic comedy to something greater.

Sincerity in the snow. Almost despite myself, this is about as good as it gets. A subtle and supple perfection: visually adept, constantly hilarious, and earnest to its core. Lubitsch delivers much of the comedy with a farcical hand, but is keenly aware of the grounding this humour requires. Matuscheck, who might otherwise be rendered with a paucity of gentle spirit – reserved for a Scrooge-esque finale – is instead complex, even real. A repressed disquiet communicated in hushed tones and fidgeting hands. Similar care is liberally apparent throughout, every scene crafted with consummate feeling and talent; a warmth permeates, soothing and tender.

“How much is that belt in the window, the one that says "2.95?"

I got to watch this in the theater which was great, and I really needed to lose myself in a movie tonight. The first half was a little slow but it really picked up towards to end. While still great there are much better Lubitsch films that are less loved or well received.

jimmy stewart: just stutters for 10 minutes straight
me: that's acting folks!

listen if anybody......I don’t know......wants to start writing me letters.......long revealing letters......and we fall in love....but we argue a lot in real life even though we actually like each other a lot and have no idea that that’s the person writing us letters........and then it’s revealed on Christmas Eve......well, I don’t know, I guess that would be nice