- Ordet
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This article is about the film. For the Japanese animation studio, see Ordet (company).
Ordet 
Theatrical release posterDirected by Carl Theodor Dreyer Produced by Carl Theodor Dreyer Written by Carl Theodor Dreyer
Kaj MunkStarring Henrik Malberg
Emil Hass Christensen
Cay Kristiansen
Preben Lerdorff RyeMusic by Poul Schierbeck Cinematography Henning Bendtsen Editing by Edith Schlüssel Release date(s) Denmark:
10 January 1955
United States:
15 December 1957Running time 126 min. Country Denmark Language Danish Ordet [1] (English: The Word) is a 1955 Danish drama film, directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer. It is based on a play by Kaj Munk, a Danish pastor, first performed in 1932. The film was the winner of the Golden Lion at the 1955 Venice Film Festival, it was the only film by Dreyer that was both a critical and financial success.[1]
Contents
Plot
The film centers around the family of Morten Borgen, who is a prominent member of the community and patron of the local parish church. In addition to the devout Morten, the father, there are his three sons: Mikkel, the eldest, who has no faith; Johannes, who has lost his mind after studying Søren Kierkegaard, believes himself to be Jesus Christ, and the third and youngest son, Anders, who wants to marry the daughter of Peter (Ejner Federspiel), a tailor who refuses the marriage because of Anders' (Cay Kristiansen) religious beliefs. Morten (Henrik Malberg) considers his religion (the Church of Denmark) to be about "life" and accuses Peter's faith (the 'Inner Mission') of being concerned with "death".
Inger (Birgitte Federspiel), wife of Mikkel (Emil Hass Christensen), is in the late stages of pregnancy; her difficult labor ends with a stillbirth. The doctor dismissively debates with the pastor whether his science is more important than the Morten's prayers in successfully saving Inger's life. Johannes upsets his father by telling him that death is nearby and will take Inger. As prophesied, Inger dies suddenly, the physician having left only moments before. Johannes offers to resurrect Inger, but falls and faints in the process. Soon after, Johannes goes missing and it is feared his life may also have ended. Johannes (Preben Lerdorff Rye) was not taken seriously in his self-belief, but returning during the laying to rest of Inger, his reason now restored, he is able to heal the rift between the two different families. Johannes again declares that he can raise Inger and offers to save her because a child (Mikkel's daughter) believes in him. The final moments show Johannes using the miracle of resurrection; Inger rises alive and Mikkel announces the regaining of his faith.
Cast
Actor Role Gerda Nielsen Anne Petersen Sylvia Eckhausen Kirstin Petersen Ejner Federspiel Peter Petersen Cay Kristiansen Anders Borgen Birgitte Federspiel Inger Borgen Emil Hass Christensen Mikkel Borgen, her husband Susanne Rud Lilleinger Borgen, Mikkel's Daughter Ann Elisabeth Rud Maren Borgen, Mikkel's Daughter Preben Lerdorff Rye Johannes Borgen Henrik Malberg Morten Borgen Ove Rud Pastor Henry Skjær The Doctor Edith Trane Mette Maren Hanne Agesen Karen, A servant Production
Kaj Munk's play I Begyndelsen var Ordet (In the Beginning was the Word) was written in 1925 and premiered in Copenhagen in 1932. Already the year before, however, Munk had himself finished a script for a film version, which he unsuccessfully tried to sell to the production company Nordisk Film. In 1943 a Swedish film version was made, directed by Gustaf Molander, which couldn't premiere in Denmark until after the war.[1]
For Dreyer's adaption, only one third of the original dialogue was used. Another difference is the play's possibility of Inger just appearing to be dead, while the film is very clear about the resurrection being a genuine miracle. The film was shot at the village Vedersø, where Munk had worked as a priest.[1]
Release
The film premiered on 10 January 1955 at Dagmar Teatret in Copenhagen.[1] It has been released on DVD by The Criterion Collection with spine number 126, as part of a box set with the other Dreyer films Day of Wrath and Gertrud.[2]
Awards
It was among films honored with the 1956 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film, as well as the National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Film. At the 1955 Bodil Awards it won for Best Actor (Emil Hass Christensen), Best Actress (Birgitte Federspiel), and tied for Best Danish films. The film was also entered into the Venice Film Festival and won its highest prize, the Golden Lion. It is currently ranked as the number one most spiritually significant film of all time by Arts and Faith online community.
References
- ^ a b c d Ordet at the Danish Film Institute (Danish)
- ^ Ordet at The Criterion Collection
External links
- Ordet at the Internet Movie Database
- Ordet at AllRovi
- Criterion Collection essay by Chris Fujiwara
- "The Incarnate Transcendence of Ordet"
- Voted #1 on The Arts and Faith Top 100 Films (2010)
Carl Theodor Dreyer Films directed The President · The Parson's Widow · Leaves from Satan's Book · Love one Another · Once Upon a Time · Michael · Thou Shalt Honor Thy Wife · Bride of Glomdal · The Passion of Joan of Arc · Vampyr · Day of Wrath · Two People · Ordet · GertrudRelated topics Medea · Carl Th. Dreyer: My MetierCinema of Denmark Golden Lion-winning films (1949–1969) Manon (1949) · Justice Is Done (1950) · Rashomon (1951) · Forbidden Games (1952) · No award (1953) · Romeo and Juliet (1954) · Ordet (1955) · No award (1956) · Aparajito (1957) · Rickshaw Man (1958) · General della Rovere / The Great War (1959) · Tomorrow Is My Turn (1960) · Last Year at Marienbad (1961) · Family Diary / Ivan's Childhood (1962) · Hands Over the City (1963) · Red Desert (1964) · Sandra (1965) · The Battle of Algiers (1966) · Belle de Jour (1967) · Artists Under the Big Top: Perplexed (1968) · No award (1969) ·
Categories:- 1955 films
- Danish films
- Danish-language films
- 1950s drama films
- Films directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer
- Leone d'Oro winners
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