Ordet
Ordet

Movie spotlight

Ordet

1943
Movie
108 min
Swedish

Swedish film of the Kaj Munk play that was made into a far more famous film by Carl Dreyer in Denmark twelve years later.

Insights

IMDb8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes95%
Metacritic96/100
Google Users95%
Director: Carl Theodor DreyerGenres: Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

Set in rural Denmark, Ordet (The Word) revolves around the Borgen family and the complex relationships and religious fervor that grip them. The youngest son, Mikkel, is an atheist, while his elder brother, Johannes, has gone mad from his theological studies and believes he is Jesus Christ. The youngest daughter, Inger, is engaged to the local pastor's son, but her impending marriage is overshadowed by illness and the existential questions facing the family. The film culminates in a profound moment of spiritual crisis and miraculous intervention.

Critical Reception

Ordet is widely regarded as a masterpiece of world cinema, lauded for its profound philosophical and theological explorations, its starkly beautiful cinematography, and Dreyer's masterful direction. Critics and audiences alike have praised its emotional depth and its challenging examination of faith, doubt, and the nature of miracles.

What Reviewers Say

  • A profound and spiritually resonant exploration of faith, doubt, and resurrection.

  • Visually stunning with deliberate pacing that enhances its dramatic and theological weight.

  • Challenging yet ultimately rewarding, Ordet is a rare cinematic and spiritual experience.

Google audience: Viewers consistently praise Ordet for its deep philosophical and religious themes, its artistic beauty, and its powerful emotional impact. Many find it to be a thought-provoking and deeply moving film, though some note its slow pace and challenging subject matter.

Awards & Accolades

Golden Lion winner at the Venice Film Festival (1955).

Fun Fact

Carl Theodor Dreyer initially struggled to cast the role of the resurrected Anne, ultimately casting Birgitte Federspiel, who was not an actress at the time and had to be persuaded to take the role. Her performance in this pivotal scene is considered one of cinema's most powerful portrayals of resurrection.

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