Ordet (1955)

Follows the lives of the Borgen family, as they deal with inner conflict, as well as religious conflict with each other, and the rest of the town.

Director:

Carl Theodor Dreyer

Writer:

Kaj Munk (play)

Stars:

Henrik Malberg, Emil Hass Christensen, Preben Lerdorff Rye

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Uncredited cast:
Hanne Aagesen	...	Karen (uncredited)
Kirsten Andreasen	...	(uncredited)
Sylvia Eckhausen	...	Kirstin Petersen (uncredited)
Birgitte Federspiel	...	Inger Borgen (uncredited)
Ejner Federspiel	...	Peter Petersen (uncredited)
Ann Elisabeth Groth	...	Maren Borgen (uncredited)
Emil Hass Christensen	...	Mikkel Borgen (uncredited)
Cay Kristiansen	...	Anders Borgen (uncredited)
Preben Lerdorff Rye	...	Johannes Borgen (uncredited)
Henrik Malberg	...	Morten Borgen (uncredited)
Gerda Nielsen	...	Anne Petersen (uncredited)
Ove Rud	...	Pastor (uncredited)
Susanne Rud	...	Lilleinger Borgen (uncredited)
Henry Skjær	...	The Doctor (uncredited)
Edith Trane	...	Mette Maren (uncredited)

Storyline

How do we understand faith and prayer, and what of miracles? August 1925 on a Danish farm. Widowed Patriarch Borgen, who's rather prominent in his community, has three sons: Mikkel, a good-hearted agnostic whose wife Inger is pregnant, Johannes, who believes he is Jesus, and Anders, young, slight, in love with the tailor's daughter. The fundamentalist sect of the girl's father is anathema to Borgen's traditional Lutheranism; he opposes the marriage until the tailor forbids it, then Borgen's pride demands that it happen. Unexpectedly, Inger, who is the family's sweetness and light, has problems with her pregnancy. The rational doctor arrives, and a long night brings sharp focus to at least four views of faith.

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Plot Keywords:

denmark | reference to jesus christ | problem pregnancy | belief in miracles | faith | 

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Taglines:

From the creator of "Day of Wrath"

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

There are only 3 close-up shots in the entire film.

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Quotes

Inger Borgen: Johannes will be himself again.
Morten Borgen: I've hoped and hoped he might, but he'll never get any better.
Inger Borgen: Why don't you believe so?
Morten Borgen: Miracles don't happen any more.
Inger Borgen: Nothing is impossible, if one prays to Him for it.
Morten Borgen: I have prayed and prayed and prayed, Inger.
Inger Borgen: Then you must go on praying, for Jesus has promised what we pray to him for, He will give us.
Morten Borgen: I know, Inger, I know - but what good have all my prayers done?

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Connections

Referenced in Ulysses' Gaze (1995)

User Reviews

Born into Dogma...

... but you wouldn't know it. The spectrum of religious belief explored through the eyes of rural Danish families in 1925 - a tricky birth, falling for the wrong girl and a son who thinks he's Jesus sets the scene. Nothing to make you smile, except for the end which, depending on your own dogma, may allow you a brief smirk.

Details

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish

Release Date:

10 January 1955 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Ordet

Filming Locations:

Husby Klit, Vedersø, Ringkøbing-Skjern, Midtjylland, Denmark

Company Credits

Production Co:

Palladium Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1