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Ordet

Ordet

1955
Drama
2h 6m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 77.36% from 1033 total ratings

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(1032)
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Rated 17 Mar 2010
95
99th
Dreyer's direction of a very precise script resulted in, quite obviously, one of the best Danish films ever made. His chilling exploration of religion and life for people living by their faith, bearing resemblance to Bergman's later work, is both masterful and very engaging. For those who understand Danish it's necessary to surmount the obstacle of the at first very distracting enunciation and it speaks to the power of the drama that I soon forgot all about that; it even added to the experience.
Rated 08 Feb 2007
85
73rd
Even though I'm not the least bit religious myself, I find religious dramas enthralling. Unlike Ingmar Bergman's ambiguous approach to God and faith, The Word is direct and almost blunt: STRONGER FAITH = BETTER THAN. And again, even though I don't even remotely believe in that, I found it fascinating to watch how the different characters dealt with their personal faith. And it doesn't hurt that the movie is superbly made and so well paced that it never gets boring.
Rated 28 Feb 2007
85
84th
At first I thought I was in for an unbearably tedious film. Dreyer is hit-or-miss with me, and this one is incredibly slow and starts out very dull. But after a while it creeps under your skin... the religious struggles between the characters become gradually more revealing and fascinating, even to a staunch atheist like myself. By the final half hour I was thoroughly engaged and deeply moved, right up to the enigmatic ending. An intriguing, if somewhat difficult to get into, study of faith.
Rated 04 May 2007
100
99th
This film shows human nature from white to black and all the fades of grey. It's a touching travel through how people deal with faith and god. And it's beautiful whether your believe or not.
Rated 02 Aug 2012
77
62nd
For the first half of the film I just didn't care about any of the characters, but once Morten meets with the tailor it all came together and I found myself really getting into it.
Rated 13 May 2008
100
99th
This movie tells you more about Christianity, or even faith itself, than a lifetime of sermons. Did I mention it was made by an Atheist?
Rated 08 Jul 2010
89
88th
Dreyers best talkie and one of the best films on faith (certainly the best on christianity). Whereas in Gertrud and, to a lesser extent, Vredens Dag, the static nature of the production and the stilted dialogue was somewhat offputting, here it works in the films favour. The ending , while it arguably raises even more questions, could be seen as an unequivocal affirmation of faith, yet even when taken at face value the rest of this masterful film easily transcends it.
Rated 17 Jul 2007
85
95th
Takes time to unfurl... but by the time Morten Borgen first sits with Anne's father Peter, Ordet switches gears and we are treated to some incredibly strong scenes. I think this is the most religious movie I've ever seen. It's more pious than anything Bresson or Bergman ever did, and atleast as bleak, but is also powdered with a fine and unobtrusive folksy humor. It's a mysterious merger of chilling morbidity and human warmth (and hotheadedness).
Rated 17 Nov 2008
95
99th
Well, i think Dreyer was an inspiration for Bergman. Within the subject that's full of religion and "thoughts of faith" and a good alegory with character "Mad Johannes" this one is beyond being a good movie. Maybe a hard movie for the new era bu a "must see" for whom loves cinema and watches films not just for fun.
Rated 08 Jan 2009
4
70th
Subtle it's not, but Ordet has a haunting quality matched by very few films. It starts off pretty slow, but eventually it becomes more and more enthralling, right up through to the moving and enigmatic ending. I'm hardly a theist, and even though Ordet's message of staunch faith in the face of personal tragedy isn't something that rings personally true, I still found it highly engaging.
Rated 21 Jan 2009
96
99th
powerful stuff. i was initially put off by the ending, but then I realised the sort of life-affirming transcendence it offers is perfectly in tune with the rest of the film... or something like that.
Rated 25 Feb 2009
100
99th
A formally complex and simply beautiful masterpiece about faith both living and dying, and the effects it has on a small village in Jutland. Dreyer's use of space really is astounding, as his movement of the camera allows his actors to physically relate to one another during complex scenes and lengthy shots. And as he drives toward the conclusion, the film becomes increasingly emotionally involving, joyously erupting in one of the most beautiful moments in all of cinema.
Rated 05 Sep 2009
95
96th
Ordet is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Everything from the camerawork, the long takes, the acting, and the truly beautiful religious scenery truly made an impact on me. Watching Ordet, I found it to be quite bleak at first, but there is one point in the film (the religious debate with peter) where it becomes highly engaging until the end. A great film about family, life, death, and of course faith. A truly beautiful film.
Rated 08 Jun 2010
90
96th
An amazingly nuanced analysis of faith and religion, and although both subject-matter and tone are heavy and dark, the movie manages to inject quite a bit of humanity and emotional depth into its characters. My only objection is the magical ending which somewhat undermines the existential questions raised. But still a masterpiece and essential viewing.
Rated 09 Jun 2010
8
84th
This is definitely not the West Jutland I knew growing up. Although we had our fair share of mad, fish-mongering, foulmouthed, semi-racist loonies out West, I don't think any of them would be able to hold a candle to dear, Jesus reincarnated Johannes.
Rated 21 Jan 2011
55
14th
A lot of religious mumbo jumbo
Rated 03 May 2011
84
90th
Haunting and moving story about a family's struggles with matters of faith (personal loss, social relationships, delusions, doubts, etc.) It is many ways similar to Bergman's examinations of religion (e.g. Winter Light) - intimate conversations and grueling tragedies abound. But unlike the oft-cynical Bergman Dreyer moves the drama in a more conservative direction that is so stark and mesmerizing that it becomes incredibly touching (and eerie) despite its implausibility.
Rated 15 Apr 2012
10
93rd
Dreyer gives us a work so pure and human that it transcends religious prejudice and offers its conclusion to open-minded people of every form of believe and non-believe. This is a movie about faith, not religion!
Rated 12 Dec 2006
74
40th
First half is near perfection then it slowly descends into condescending misogynistic crap. I hate the ending with a fiery passion.
Rated 27 Apr 2008
5
80th
On faith and the proposal of its value. I find myself going back and forth on how exactly to interpret the ending and the character of Johannes in particular. There's a certain confrontation Dreyer is achieving in the pace of this (involving the characters, and ourselves, as viewers) that I find, for lack of a better term, perfect.
Rated 26 Sep 2008
90
99th
A film of astounding beauty and power.
Rated 12 Dec 2009
84
90th
While the viewer might disagree with the message about the importance of religion in our lives (I know I do), this sober but beautiful drama still struck a chord.
Rated 08 Feb 2010
100
99th
I'm stunned. I can't even believe that a movie which is so much about religion struck me like this. Dreyers camerawork and lighting are captivating, his characters are extremely well developed and the actors almost seem to suffer from the grief of their characters. The pace might appear a bit dull in the beginning but in the end it all makes sense. 08/02/2010
Rated 21 Jan 2011
43
4th
What a letdown! This film, and the point it makes, is just too banal to warrant how slow and pretentious it is. I felt genuinely cheated at the end (I might have missed something genious, for otherwise I really don't get the fuzz about this one). I mean, if I want one-dimensional characters (the sons, not so much the fathers who actually share a couple of great, dynamical scenes together) whose single purpose is to make a religious/philosophical point, I'd much rather watch a Woody Allen film.
Rated 11 Jun 2012
75
59th
Emotionally gripping, but the ending is complete bullshit. Faith doesn't really mean a whole lot if the truth of it is handed to you on a silver platter.
Rated 19 Oct 2016
80
91st
However long gone, 60 years later, the miraculous cosmos of this film may seem, there has never been a time, in this age of dawning awareness of the so-called Anthropocene, when belief in the possibility of the absolutely improbable has been more necessary, so as to stave off the "halfheartedness" (that is, the cowardice) that is Dreyer's target. Besides that, what will endure are the long takes in which lengthy, complex human dialogue is perfectly articulated with slow, smooth camera movements.
Rated 12 Feb 2018
4
10th
dumb
Rated 09 Nov 2018
50
20th
I'm way out of my depth on this one - between the heavy religious content and the unfamiliar societal settings, this was a real challenge to get into.
Rated 24 Jun 2020
100
99th
Simply one of the most moving films I have ever seen. The crux of Ordet being a very nuanced exploration of faith and skepticism it's really a film about the life experience; about the mysteries of love and miracle, pride and hypocrisy, about innocence and hardness. It is not a film about our need for religion so much as it is a deconstruction of the failures of the church when challenged by the irrational reality of its own beliefs.
Rated 03 Oct 2021
90
95th
Peasants struggling with faith and ordeals of real life in the 20th century, when miracles don't happen anymore -- that's what the reverend says. And then is just all pain. One son doesn't believe in God -- or, as he says, he has no faith in faith --, the other falls for the daughter of a fanatic, tormented Christian and there is one who believes he's Jesus Christ - 'you believe in the dead Christ, but not in the living Christ'. So raw, yet quiet. So peaceful, yet intense. Such a powerful ending
Rated 17 Apr 2007
96
96th
# 41
Rated 01 Mar 2008
98
96th
# 37
Rated 27 Oct 2008
7
80th
The type of film that is much more interesting to think about afterwards then it is to watch. I love the way the themes were presented and tackled, but uuughgggh it was so slow most of the time.
Rated 19 Dec 2008
98
96th
34
Rated 21 Mar 2009
95
93rd
Revisto no dia 20 de agosto de 2023
Rated 24 Dec 2009
96
96th
A spare film about faith and miracles. It is very slow and never showy, but it builds in intensity until it blossoms in one of the most powerful films about faith films I have seen. Sure, it is absurd, but--as Tertullian said--that is why I believe.
Rated 13 Jan 2010
98
96th
38
Rated 26 Apr 2010
95
99th
This movie manages to do the hardest thing in cinema and life in general. It manages to make the resurrection believable.
Rated 11 Oct 2010
70
41st
The ending is so bad it's almost comical, but the film up to that point is stunningly well-made and just dowright beautiful. It's also quite sad. I think you could probably press the stop button about five minutes before the end and be much more satisfied.
Rated 29 Jan 2011
45
41st
Through his camerawork, Dreyer seems determined to keep the viewer aware that they're watching a filmed version of a stage play. I don't know whether Dreyer had any particular reason for shooting this way, but it's an interesting question. Less interesting is the Johannes character and his generic movie-crazy (as opposed to real-crazy) act. The conclusion is so audacious and presented so matter-of-factly that I can't help but respect it. Related: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4EhaQklWqA
Rated 10 Mar 2011
65
27th
The ending was completely gay, and pretty much ruined it for me. I was clearly missing something, as I was sure it was going in a different direction. At least with Joan of Arc, one can apply their own perspective to Ms. of Arc's death. Even though the titles said something to the effect of "yeah, she went to heaven or something", I can roll my eyes "lol sure" and still enjoy the film. Almost none of that here, as the ending almost negated all of the technical brilliance that preceded it for me.
Rated 30 Nov 2011
98
96th
#40
Rated 10 Feb 2012
93
94th
One of the few films that actually causes one to re-think one's faith. Powerful.
Rated 04 Mar 2012
95
93rd
I have no idea why, but this extremely simple movie works.
Rated 26 May 2012
75
67th
hristiyanlik, inanc, inancsizlik, din felsefesi, cenaze töreni, evlenemeyen gencler, lültür farki, Hz. isa oldugunu iddaa eden genc, akil hastasi, ciftlik evi (Finali daha farkli olsaymis daha güzel olurmus. Yine de izletti kendini)
Rated 15 Jul 2012
92
88th
Carefully planned frames. Slow introduction and development of every single character. Nothing random, nothing forced, nothing cheap, everything very well integrated. Dreyer takes his time and so must you, after watching it, to digest and fully feed on it.
Rated 05 Oct 2012
75
44th
Strong religious themes tackled with decent sensibility.
Rated 13 Dec 2012
77
97th
Second to that Gorecki documentary--the footage of the boney Jewish corpses being tipped in a pit--as the most stressful piece of film endured. Just agony. Moral and spiritual agony. The empty rooms and tall grasses and the old man hunched over his pipe trying to make sense of anything. Fuck. Fuck it. Fuck everything.
Rated 16 Dec 2012
42
30th
Beauty isn't the only thing which resides within the beholder.
Rated 10 Jan 2013
100
99th
Stark, austere, beautiful and mesmerising. Even as an agnostic I still found this film deeply moving in its exploration of faith and its look at people's belief in the transcendent power of faith. The ending is one of the most extraordinary things I've ever seen filmed - to quote an article I read: "The power of the cinematic illusion here, if we accept it, makes us believe the unbelievable, if only temporarily: it unhooks the world from its moorings and sends it spinning into a new life."
Rated 08 Mar 2013
74
33rd
Slow, religious-themed films are never going to be my cup of tea, no matter how well they are shot. I could bear most of the characters and their dramas but that Johannes dude, combined with the overall length, made it an ordeal to get through.
Rated 14 Mar 2013
8
92nd
Hauntingly beautiful in it's stark, simplistic black and white cinematography and mise en scenes. Slow paced but the emotions of the characters draw you in to the situation.
Rated 30 Nov 2013
7
92nd
it is interesting how an ending can place all what came before in an entirely different perspective. most of the film seemed to be a bergmanesque analysis of religion and faith, but the final scene recasts all that as a critique of our sectarianism and lack of unity in belief, and even suggests that hey, sometimes miracles do happen. for me, considering the masterful way the film probes its complex subjects, the ending didn't quite work. maybe needs a rewatch.
Rated 03 Oct 2014
100
97th
Nydelig fremstilling av tro, tvil og hvordan dette påvirker mellommenneskelige relasjoner. Var forberedt på noe langt tregere, men denne grep meg fra første minutt. Et par imponerende kameragrep, men hovedsaklig manus som gjorde inntrykk.
Rated 31 Oct 2014
71
35th
A well-crafted sleeping pill
Rated 31 Jan 2015
85
75th
Its religious-heavy message may distract from the heart of the story and beauty of the images. If you can get past how much weight is placed on blind faith, there is a lot to value here. It's more about not letting minor differences get in the way of happiness and communion among families. As quiet as it is, Ordet is benefited from some excellent camerawork. The lack of cuts as the camera tracks the movement of characters adds a lived in quality.
Rated 14 Dec 2015
49
63rd
Ordet is really a good play and a well-directed film, yet it only made me crave for more Buñuel immediately! thank god, I'm still an atheist.
Rated 28 Feb 2016
18
96th
Star Rating: ★★★★★
Rated 18 Aug 2016
75
72nd
An often heart-piercing anthology of dysfunctional family relationships, all of them leading back to the hardest-to-please Grandad of them all, God. Along with Bergman's "Det sjunde inseglet", it registers as one of the first attempts at a truly philosophical picture; and although it was too slow in parts and the (beautifully realized!) ending did hit some of my cynicism buttons, these characters and their conflicts are pretty resonant. And, of course, lots of gorgeously photographed wheat.
Rated 23 Aug 2016
95
99th
A stunning exploration of faith amidst familial crisis, Ordet is a stark yet compassionate film that achieves a rare 'transcendent' quality. Dreyer's control over the frame is near otherwordly: static painterly compositions alternate fluidly with complex staging and camera movements that strengthen our engagement with the unfolding events, deepening our emotional involvement. It's slow to unfurl, but it's intensely powerful and moving and ultimately a towering work of European cinema.
Rated 24 Sep 2016
96
98th
https://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/05/frosty_the_snowman.html
Rated 08 Jan 2017
75
89th
Ordet is slow in setup, but is gripping for its entire second half in a way few films are. Johannes is such a pitiable character, and yet he isn't. Films that portray attacks on faith can be cheesy and heavy-handed. Ordet does not become heavy-handed until its ending and its ending is presented so righteously that I find it hard to be bothered. I knew it could happen, so why not? This was a movie, after all.
Rated 27 Nov 2017
65
24th
It's a bit like waiting a very long time for some profound punch-line. In stark contrast to its somewhat remake Silent Light, which is a deeply atmospheric work, the staginess of Ordet's presentation is disheartening and theatrical, which somehow adds 30 seconds to every minute of its run-time. I do like the many varying character reactions to the family issues, particularly as it comes to a thoroughly memorable ending, but this is cinematic and communion broccoli.
Rated 26 Nov 2018
55
56th
It has some good scenes. I gave this score for only scenes not conservative shits. There is no god, religion is lie.
Rated 21 Feb 2019
91
84th
91.00
Rated 29 May 2019
100
99th
Só mesmo o Dreyer pra fazer um ateu cair de joelhos perante um filme desses. Com extrema economia dos elementos da mise-en-scène e na edição, mas com planos de deixar qualquer um boquiaberto, me vi realocar meu usual deboche quanto à fé e me entregar à essa maravilhosidade do cinema, coisa que nem Bresson conseguira antes. Box Versátil A Arte de Carl Theodor Dreyer.
Rated 23 Feb 2020
80
78th
For a movie so sparse, there are a lot of layers of religious thought. You feel a bleakness throughout -- it seemed like a Bergman film in parts -- and yet there's always that bit of hope through faith that shines in the small moments. Powerful film.
Rated 09 Apr 2020
77
63rd
Filmde verilen her mesaja şiddetle karşı olsam da, zamanına göre çok üstün bir yapım olduğunu görmezden gelemem.
Rated 04 May 2020
76
80th
Liked it. There is a certain flow in this piece that somehow made it go by so fast, even though it takes its time in a lot of places. All the characters felt so real
Rated 14 Oct 2020
76
48th
A breath of fresh air; Finally a religious film I liked
Rated 12 Mar 2022
82
74th
01.21 Çiftlik
Rated 18 Sep 2022
66
58th
Great cinematography and a question whether miracles are possible.
Rated 01 Oct 2022
77
64th
Very good, thoughtful movie mediating over topics like religion, faith, family, and more. Sometimes a bit overly slow, and some of the performances (especially Rye's Johannes) feel a bit off, but other performances make up for it, and the ideas in it are often fascinating. I wouldn't say I loved it, but it's a really, really solid film with a ton to say.
Rated 28 Feb 2023
55
32nd
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