Day of Wrath1943
Both picked by Claire Denis’ in the Criterion Closet, both on Stephen Cone’s Top 10, both directed by Carl Th. Dreyer and Carl Theodor Dreyer, and both starring Preben Lerdorff Rye
- Criterion Collection
- Spine №126
- Connections
- View Connections
Synopsis
A farmer’s family is torn apart by faith, sanctity, and love—one child believes he’s Jesus Christ, a second proclaims himself agnostic, and the third falls in love with a fundamentalist’s daughter. Putting the lie to the term “organized religion,” ORDET (THE WORD) is a challenge to simple facts and dogmatic orthodoxy. Layering multiple stories of faith and rebellion, Dreyer’s adaptation of Kaj Munk’s play quietly builds towards a shattering, miraculous climax.
