Ordet
Encyclopedia
Ordet http://fragmental.dk/wp-content/lyd/ordetpronounced.mp3 (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.
, 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.
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
.
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.
with spine number 126, as part of a box set with the other Dreyer films Day of Wrath
and Gertrud
.
, 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.
1955 in film
The year 1955 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, debuts.* June 27 - The last ever Republic serial, King of the Carnival, is released....
Danish
Cinema of Denmark
Denmark has been producing films since 1897 and since the 1980s has maintained a steady stream of product due largely to funding by the state-supported Danish Film Institute. Historically, Danish films have been noted for their realism, religious and moral themes, sexual frankness and technical...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
, directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Carl Theodor Dreyer, Jr. was a Danish film director. He is regarded by many critics and filmmakers as one of the greatest directors in cinema.-Life:Dreyer was born illegitimate in Copenhagen, Denmark...
. It is based on a play by Kaj Munk
Kaj Munk
Kaj Harald Leininger Munk was a Danish playwright and Lutheran pastor, known for his cultural engagement and his martyrdom during the Occupation of Denmark of World War II...
, a Danish pastor, first performed in 1932. The film was the winner of the Golden Lion
Golden Lion
Il Leone d’Oro is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most distinguished prizes...
at the 1955 Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
, it was the only film by Dreyer that was both a critical and financial success.
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 KierkegaardSøren Kierkegaard
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish Christian philosopher, theologian and religious author. He was a critic of idealist intellectuals and philosophers of his time, such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling and Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel...
, believes himself to be Jesus Christ, and the third and youngest son, Anders, who wants to marry the daughter of Peter (Ejner Federspiel
Ejner Federspiel
Ejner Federspiel was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 58 films between 1934 and 1981.He was born and died in Denmark.-Selected filmography:* Familien Olsen * The Red Horses...
), a tailor who refuses the marriage because of Anders' (Cay Kristiansen) religious beliefs. Morten (Henrik Malberg
Henrik Malberg
Henrik Malberg was a Danish actor of theater and Danish cinema who played his most noted role at the age of 80—the stoic authoritative farm owner in the Carl Th. Dreyer classic film Ordet.- Career :...
) considers his religion
Religious denomination
A religious denomination is a subgroup within a religion that operates under a common name, tradition, and identity.The term describes various Christian denominations...
(the Church of Denmark) to be about "life" and accuses Peter's faith (the 'Inner Mission') of being concerned with "death".
Inger (Birgitte Federspiel
Birgitte Federspiel
Birgitte Federspiel was a Danish film, theater, and TV actress. As a younger woman she won two Bodil Awards for film with the first win in 1951....
), wife of Mikkel (Emil Hass Christensen
Emil Hass Christensen
Emil Hass Christensen was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1925 and 1978.He was born in Frederiksberg, Denmark and died in Denmark.-Filmography:*Cirkusrevyen 1936 - 1936...
), 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
Preben Lerdorff Rye
Preben Lerdorff Rye was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 92 films between 1941 and 1989.He was born and died in Denmark.-Filmography:* En ganske almindelig pige * Tante Cramers testamente...
) 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
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
of resurrection
Resurrection
Resurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
; Inger rises alive and Mikkel announces the regaining of his faith.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Gerda Nielsen | Anne Petersen |
| Sylvia Eckhausen | Kirstin Petersen |
| Ejner Federspiel Ejner Federspiel Ejner Federspiel was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 58 films between 1934 and 1981.He was born and died in Denmark.-Selected filmography:* Familien Olsen * The Red Horses... |
Peter Petersen |
| Cay Kristiansen | Anders Borgen |
| Birgitte Federspiel Birgitte Federspiel Birgitte Federspiel was a Danish film, theater, and TV actress. As a younger woman she won two Bodil Awards for film with the first win in 1951.... |
Inger Borgen |
| Emil Hass Christensen Emil Hass Christensen Emil Hass Christensen was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1925 and 1978.He was born in Frederiksberg, Denmark and died in Denmark.-Filmography:*Cirkusrevyen 1936 - 1936... |
Mikkel Borgen, her husband |
| Susanne Rud | Lilleinger Borgen, Mikkel's Daughter |
| Ann Elisabeth Rud | Maren Borgen, Mikkel's Daughter |
| Preben Lerdorff Rye Preben Lerdorff Rye Preben Lerdorff Rye was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 92 films between 1941 and 1989.He was born and died in Denmark.-Filmography:* En ganske almindelig pige * Tante Cramers testamente... |
Johannes Borgen |
| Henrik Malberg Henrik Malberg Henrik Malberg was a Danish actor of theater and Danish cinema who played his most noted role at the age of 80—the stoic authoritative farm owner in the Carl Th. Dreyer classic film Ordet.- Career :... |
Morten Borgen |
| Ove Rud Ove Rud Ove Rud was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 21 films between 1950 and 2000.He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and died in Denmark.-Filmography:* Blinkende lygter * Skytten... |
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 CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
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
Nordisk Film
Nordisk Film , established in Denmark in 1906 by Danish filmmaker Ole Olsen, is the oldest continuously operating film studio in the world. Olsen started his company in the Copenhagen suburb of Valby under the name "Ole Olsen's Film Factory" but soon changed it to the Nordisk Film Kompagni...
. In 1943 a Swedish
Cinema of Sweden
Swedish cinema is known as producing many critically acclaimed movies, and during the 20th century was the most prominent of Scandinavia. This is largely due to the popularity and prominence of the directors Ingmar Bergman, Victor Sjöström, and more recently Lasse Hallström and Lukas...
film version was made, directed by Gustaf Molander
Gustaf Molander
Gustaf Harald August Molander was a Swedish actor and film director. His parents were the director Harald Molander, Sr. and the singer and actress Lydia Molander, née Wessler, and his brother was the director Olof Molander...
, which couldn't premiere in Denmark until after the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
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.
Release
The film premiered on 10 January 1955 at Dagmar Teatret in Copenhagen. It has been released on DVD by The Criterion CollectionThe Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection is a video-distribution company selling "important classic and contemporary films" to film aficionados. The Criterion series is noted for helping to standardize the letterbox format for home video, bonus features, and special editions...
with spine number 126, as part of a box set with the other Dreyer films Day of Wrath
Day of Wrath
Day of Wrath is a black-and-white film, made in 1943, by Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer. The film is an adaptation of Anne Pedersdotter by the Norwegian playwright Hans Wiers-Jenssen, based on an actual Norwegian case in the sixteenth century.-Plot:Day of Wrath is set in a Danish village in...
and Gertrud
Gertrud (film)
Gertrud is a 1964 Danish drama film directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, based on the 1906 play of the same name by Hjalmar Söderberg. The title role of Gertrud Kanning is played by Nina Pens Rode, with Bendt Rothe as her husband, Gustav Kanning, and Baard Owe as her lover, Erland Jansson.Gertrud was...
.
Awards
It was among films honored with the 1956 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language FilmGolden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the awards presented at the Golden Globes, an American film awards ceremony.Until 1986, it was known as the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film, meaning that any non-American film could be honoured...
, as well as the National Board of Review Award for Best Foreign Film. At the 1955 Bodil Awards
Bodil Awards
The Bodil Awards are the major Danish film awards given by Denmark's National Association of Film Critics . The awards are presented annually at a ceremony in the Imperial Cinema in Copenhagen. Established in 1948, it is one of the oldest film awards in Europe...
it won for Best Actor (Emil Hass Christensen
Emil Hass Christensen
Emil Hass Christensen was a Danish film actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1925 and 1978.He was born in Frederiksberg, Denmark and died in Denmark.-Filmography:*Cirkusrevyen 1936 - 1936...
), Best Actress (Birgitte Federspiel
Birgitte Federspiel
Birgitte Federspiel was a Danish film, theater, and TV actress. As a younger woman she won two Bodil Awards for film with the first win in 1951....
), and tied for Best Danish films. The film was also entered into the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
and won its highest prize, the Golden Lion
Golden Lion
Il Leone d’Oro is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film Festival. The prize was introduced in 1949 by the organizing committee and is now regarded as one of the film industry's most distinguished prizes...
. It is currently ranked as the number one most spiritually significant film of all time by Arts and Faith online community.