Ordet
1955 · 125 min · Drama
Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer
“A Legend for Today”
The three sons of devout Danish farmer Morten have widely disparate religious beliefs. Youngest son Anders shares his father's religion, but eldest son Mikkel has lost his faith, while middle child Johannes has become delusional and proclaims that he is Jesus Christ himself. When Mikkel's wife, Inger goes into a difficult childbirth, everyone's beliefs are put to the test.
Why it's worth watching
Ordet is a cinematic masterpiece that explores the depths of faith, doubt, and the miraculous. Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer, it portrays a fractured family confronting tragedy and sectarian division, culminating in one of the most powerful depictions of resurrection and divine intervention in film history. It challenges viewers to move beyond dry intellectualism or rigid sectarianism into a living, childlike faith.
What it praises
It praises genuine, childlike faith, the sanctity of marriage and family, and the ultimate power of God over death.
For discernment
Dreyer's masterwork is one of the most reverent films ever made about faith, taking prayer, Scripture, and the possibility of a literal miracle with complete seriousness rather than irony, and building to a resurrection scene of genuine spiritual weight. It honestly dramatizes the sin of sectarian pride — two devout families despising one another over doctrine — and rebukes both dead orthodoxy and joyless legalism in favor of childlike, believing faith. Discerning viewers should be prepared for its hardest elements: a middle son who, having lost his mind studying Kierkegaard, wanders the farm claiming to be Christ himself (portrayed as tragic delusion, not blasphemy), a long and uncomfortable difficult-childbirth sequence, and the death of a beloved young wife. The tone is austere, slow, and grief-soaked before its consolation arrives. This is edifying, serious viewing for a mature believer, and its treatment of God's power over death is more likely to strengthen faith than trouble it.
- Faith & familyA man driven insane by theology believes and declares himself to be Jesus Christ; also depicts bitter sectarian pride between two devout families.
- NoteA long, uncomfortable difficult-childbirth scene and the death of a young wife may be distressing.
- SubstancesCasual drinking and pipe/cigarette smoking.
Cast
Henrik Malberg
Morten Borgen (uncredited)
Birgitte Federspiel
Inger Borgen (uncredited)
Emil Hass Christensen
Mikkel Borgen (uncredited)
Preben Lerdorff Rye
Johannes Borgen (uncredited)
Cay Kristiansen
Anders Borgen (uncredited)
Ejner Federspiel
Peter Petersen (uncredited)
Gerda Nielsen
Anne Petersen (uncredited)
Sylvia Eckhausen
Kirstin Petersen (uncredited)
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