Gertrud (Directors Suite)
Ordet (Directors Suite)
Themes of religion and personal integrity punctuate Carl Theodor Dreyer's ORDET. Set on a Twentieth Century Danish farm, the story centers around Morton Borgen, his wife Inger and their three sons, all of whom have strayed from the Lutheran patriarchy of their upbringing. The family must face romantic and religious challenges in the lead up to the film's thrilling ending, the disturbing nature of which is testimony to Dreyer's directorial skills.
Day of Wrath (Vredens dag) (Directors Suite)
Carl Theodor Dreyer made this film during the Nazi occupation of Denmark and, similar to the way Arthur Miller demonised the Hayes Code in his play 'The Crucible', Day of Wrath uses the larger narrative of witch-hunts to point out the paranoid obsession of the period. The story follows Anne, the wife of a much older and well-respected pastor. When Anne falls in love with her stepson, Martin, a devastating series of events is triggered.
An intense and unforgettable tale of social repression and paranoia, Day of Wrath is as relevant today as it was in Nazi occupied Denmark.
Master of the House (Du skal ære din hustru) (Directors Suite)
Since the failure of his small business, Victor has become a household tyrant, constantly complaining and criticising his long suffering family. The saintly forbearance of his wife Ida seems only to drive Victor to ever more vindictive acts of tyranny. Finally, Victor's old nanny, watching his behaviour with increasing fury, takes drastic action.
With an enchanting performance from Astrid Holm at its centre, this is a carefully observed comedy of manners, tackling issues of domestic inequality which are still relevant today. Meanwhile, Mathilde Nielsen as Nanny Mads ensures a rich vein of humour runs through the emotional and deeply affecting film.
Carl Th. Dreyer - My Metier
