Review of Ordet (1955) by Edgar C — 04 Jul 2010

Interesting how directors like Angelopoulos and Tarkovsky are often credited as the auteurs that influenced Béla Tarr when, ironically, Ordet is an unparalleled masterpiece of insightful religion discussion set in times of intolerance and lack of faith. Also, it surpasses any Tarr project (perhaps except for Sátántangó). This is not necessarily an attack towards religious people, but rather it questions directly, in an ethereal manner, the true motivations behind those that carry an emotionless life and make up their inner void with banalities and materialistic illusions. Moral of the film (only true Christians will understand the implications of the ending): Jesus Christ brought to us the greatest gift He could ever offer to mankind, and He resides in the heart of those who accept Him. We were invited to see how people saw the Son of God back in the 1st Century; doubt alone brings complete destruction to a non-believer, even for those that masquerade their words, acts and Biblical knowledge with hypocritical ignorance and undeniable atheism. Only Dreyer could make such a controversial magnum opus in such an early era, misunderstood by the time and underappreciated now.

100/100.