A melodrama about a man driven mad by tragic misfortune and cruelty, but it's hard to feel too sorry for him because he really didn't have a very good plan. Maybe I'm being harsh, but despite a strong performance by Sjostrom I just wasn't emotionally invested enough to care that much about his troubles. However, technically it's very impressive for its time and features some stunning nautical cinematography and a haunting final image that serves as a strong counterpoint to the redemptive theme.

It's no surprise to find out this Swedish silent film is based on a poem. Everything from the visuals to the music to the narrative and indeed the intertitles which quote the poem itself give the film this strange feel of an old folk tale that has been passed on by mouth through generations. It's a great little film that had me gripped and delivered an emotional gut-punch. It's a very good story very well told with a great performance from Sjostrom and I enjoyed it a lot.

"If the film is ultimately unsatisfying, it is due not so much to the story or performances as to the claustrophobic sets." - Fernando F. Croce