1955
Directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer
What a throwback. Many moons ago, I watched The Passion of Joan of Arc, directed by Dreyer as well, which I listed as the best movie of the 1920s. I was quite happy to see another Dreyer film. However, it was a little bit like seeing the star quarterback ten years after high school ends. This director is really past his prime and his mere presence is an embarrassment. Not that I exaggerate.
This film centers on three sons. One is an atheist, one believes that he is Jesus Christ, and one is in love with a woman from another denomination. Religion is then shoved down the viewers' throats. I don't know if Dreyer was always this preachy and just was unable to reach his true level of obnoxiousness because of the restrictions of silent film or if this was a later development. Either way it was annoying.
This film was also just incredibly dull. You would think that a character believing he was Jesus Christ would be interesting but no such luck. Skip it.
RATING: *----
Interesting Facts:
Even the trivia from this movie is boring.
Okay, at first I hated this; I felt like it was a missed opportunity to have some really interesting discussions about religion and faith. Then towards the middle and up until the last 15 minutes I actually got into it. Then the ending just totally ruined it! It was kind of touching and then just went off the rails. I'm disappointed but for different reasons than I thought I would be haha
ReplyDeleteSo how long did you get of actual enjoyment? Twenty minutes?
DeleteI may be biased on this one as I perfectly understand these people. I have seen their kind and the conflicts are all too familiar. However the central theme is quite universal. Those who are very religious are often those who entirely miss the point on religion. I kind of like that point.
ReplyDeleteI can see that.
DeleteYou thought this was preachy, shoving religion down our throats? Although coming at it from several different angles, if anything I thought the balance of the film
ReplyDeletewas very anti-religion. Or, at least, anti-religion but pro-God.
I liked it when the old man kept telling Johannes/Jesus to go to bed. Reminded me of Monty Python and the Holy Grail saying "He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"