Review of Ordet (1955) by Walter M — 18 Dec 2009

Although the main theme of Carl Theodor Dreyer's ORDET concerns itself with faith and religion, there is enough insight here on the human condition to stimulate the more secular viewers. I'm always amazed how Dreyer's films can seem so low-key or unassuming (compared to the usual Hollywood fare) and yet resonate with such strong emotions.

Morten Borgen (Henrik Malberg) is the devout patriarch who runs the prosperous Borgen Farm in rural Denmark. Although he is a widower, Morten has raised three sons who live with him on the farm. The eldest son, Mikkel (Emil Hass Christensen) is married to Inger (Birgitte Federspiel) who is pregnant and expecting their 3rd child. Mikkel feels alienated by his father's religion - having "no faith in faith", as he puts it.

The middle son, Johannes was once studying to be a priest (as per his father wishes) but became mad (supposedly while studying the work of danish philosopher Kierkegaard, of all things) and now goes around thinking he is Jesus Christ.

The youngest and third son, Anders (Cay Kristiansen) is in love with Anne (Gerda Nielsen), daughter of Peter Peterson (Ejner Federspiel), the town tailor - also a religious man, albeit of a more fundamentalist kind than ol' Morten - and therein lies the rub. Peter refuses to give his daughter's hand to Anders mainly because of their religious differences.

ORDET is based on the play of the same title and Dreyer more or less presents it as such. Music is also very limited - heard mostly during the very beginning of the film and the very end...as if to give the spoken word your undivided attention ("ORDET" translates to "THE WORD", by the way.) Most of the drama takes place inside the Borgen farmhouse where Dreyer's use of the camera takes maximum advantage of the limited sets - always seemingly tracking and panning to and fro - isolating and framing different characters in interesting ways.

On hand too is the town Doctor (Henry Skjær) and town Parson (Ove Rud) - adding a bit of "science and religion" to the proceedings...especially memorable is the first meeting between the Parson and Johannes...er, Jesus Christ himself. I like Dreyer's sense of humor here. Also very memorable is the scene between Johannes and his young niece.

I've watched this film over and over these past few nights and there certainly is much food for thought here.

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How I would rank the 7 Carl Theodor Dreyer films I've seen so far:

Day of Wrath.

Ordet.

Vampyr.

Michael.

The Passion of Joan of Arc.

Gertrud.

Leaves From Satan's Book.