The Word

dir:  Carl Th. Dreyer
pro: Tage Nielsen, Palladium
sc: Carl Th. Dreyer
ph: Henning Bendtsen
mus: Poul Schierbeck 
ed: Edith Schlüssel
cast: Henrik Malberg, Emil Hass Christensen, Preben Lerdorff Rye, Cay Kristiansen, Birgitte Federspiel
dis: Dansk Kulturfilm (DFI)

Morten Borgen is a farmer and a man of faith who awakened his region to Christianity in the spirit of Grundtvig. He has three sons: Mikkel, Johannes and Anders. Mikkel, who works the farm and is married to Inger, does not share his father’s faith. Johannes, once a student of theology, has lost his mind. Anders wants to marry Anne, the tailor’s daughter, but her family belongs to the Inner Mission, which is irreconcilable with Grundtvigianism, and so the young lovers can’t wed. Inger dies giving birth to a stillborn son. The calamity softens the two stern fathers and they give Anders and Anne permission to marry. Inger’s daughter, Maren, and Johannes, who has regained his sanity, pray by Inger’s casket for God to bring her back from the dead – and a miracle happens.

“The Word” is regarded as one of Dreyer’s most important and best films. It was also his biggest commercial success, winning more acclaim and awards than all his other films combined. Among other awards, the film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the American critics’ Golden Globe Award.

Ordet / The Word,  Dania (DK) 1955 cz-b|b&w 122 min.