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.

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.

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

Restricted to a religious focus for its commitment to the period but speaks volumes more. This film is faith - every element is intrinsically tied to its genuine expression up to the most ambiguous ending this side of Antonioni.

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.

First half is near perfection then it slowly descends into condescending misogynistic crap. I hate the ending with a fiery passion.

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.

# 41

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.

A film of astounding beauty and power.

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).

38

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.

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.

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.

Dreyer's work is fantastic.

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.

A spare film about faith and miracles.

34

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?

# 37

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 person of faith, 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.