Fictionalized documentary showing the evolution of witchcraft, from its pagan roots to its confusion with hysteria in Eastern Europe.Fictionalized documentary showing the evolution of witchcraft, from its pagan roots to its confusion with hysteria in Eastern Europe.Fictionalized documentary showing the evolution of witchcraft, from its pagan roots to its confusion with hysteria in Eastern Europe.
Elisabeth Christensen
- En ældre bondekone
- (as Elizabeth Christensen)
- …
John Andersen
- Chief Inquisitor
- (as Johs Andersen)
Emmy Schønfeld
- Marie, the Seamstress
- (as Emmy Schönfeld)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Swedish film censors required numerous cuts in the film, before authorizing its release. Among the censored scenes were the closeup of the finger being removed from the hanged man's hand, the trampling of the cross in the witch's sabbath scene, the shot of the oozing infant held over a cooking pot, a closeup of a woman's face while she is on a torture rack, closeups of several instruments of torture being employed, and a shot of a demon embracing a nude woman (all these shots have since been restored to the film).
- GoofsThe skeletal horse-like creature wandering around during the Sabbath clearly is being moved about by a couple of stage hands, hidden under the blanket that covers its "body". The feet of the crew member at the front of the monster are visible in one shot.
- Quotes
Title Card: Poor little hysterical witch! In the middle ages you were in conflict with the church. Now it is with the law.
- Crazy creditsDirector Benjamin Christensen personally thanks his cinematographer and art director through the opening titles.
- Alternate versionsWitchcraft Through the Ages (1968), the 76-minute version of Häxan, narrated by William S. Burroughs, with a soundtrack featuring Jean-Luc Ponty
- ConnectionsEdited into From Camille to Joan of Arc (1961)
Featured review
The writer and director Benjamin Christensen discloses a historical view of the witches through the seven parts of this silent movie.
In the beginning, there is a slide-show alternating intertitles with drawings and paintings to illustrate the explanations of the behavior of pagan cultures and in the Middle Ages regarding their vision of demons and witches.
Then there is a dramatization of the situation of the witches in the Middle Ages, with the witchcraft and the witch-hunts.
Finally Benjamin Christensen compares the behavior of hysteria of the modern women of 1921 with the behavior of the witches in the Middle Ages, concluding that they are very similar.
"Häxan" is incredibly perfect for a for a 1922 movie. Like in a thesis, he exposes his point of view based in his study of the theme along the time. The reconstitution of the witches in the Middle Ages is amazing. The last part with the comparison with the hysteric women is funny in 2010, but it was the reality in 1921. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Häxan - A Feitiçaria Através dos Tempos" ("Häxan - The Witchcraft Through the Time")
Note: On 16 Aug 2018 I saw this film again.
In the beginning, there is a slide-show alternating intertitles with drawings and paintings to illustrate the explanations of the behavior of pagan cultures and in the Middle Ages regarding their vision of demons and witches.
Then there is a dramatization of the situation of the witches in the Middle Ages, with the witchcraft and the witch-hunts.
Finally Benjamin Christensen compares the behavior of hysteria of the modern women of 1921 with the behavior of the witches in the Middle Ages, concluding that they are very similar.
"Häxan" is incredibly perfect for a for a 1922 movie. Like in a thesis, he exposes his point of view based in his study of the theme along the time. The reconstitution of the witches in the Middle Ages is amazing. The last part with the comparison with the hysteric women is funny in 2010, but it was the reality in 1921. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Häxan - A Feitiçaria Através dos Tempos" ("Häxan - The Witchcraft Through the Time")
Note: On 16 Aug 2018 I saw this film again.
- claudio_carvalho
- Aug 7, 2010
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- SEK 2,000,000 (estimated)
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