FAQ

Two friends, farm owner Morten Borgen (Henrik Malberg) and tailor Peter Peterson (Ejner Federspiel), are feuding about whether or not their children, Anne Peterson (Gerda Nielsen) and Anders Borgen (Cay Kristiansen), who are in love with each other, can marry because of their conflicting religious beliefs. Borgen also has two other sons -- Johannes (Preben Lerdorff Rye), a seemingly mentally-challenged man who believes that he is Jesus Christ, and Mikkel (Emil Hass Christensen) whose wife Inger (Birgitte Federspiel) is expecting a child. Events occur that impact the faith of both families.

Ordet is based on a play of the same name by Danish Lutheran pastor and playwright Kaj Munk (1898-1944). The play was written in 1925 and premiered in Copenhagen in 1932. It was adapted for this movie by Danish film-maker Carl Theodor Dreyer. The play was also made into a another movie, Ordet (1943), by Swedish director Gustaf Molander, and again in the Finnish made-for-TV version, Ordet (1962).

Ordet is Danish for "the Word." It refers to the biblical phrase "in the beginning was the word."

It's true that the film has a religious theme and quotes repeatedly from the Christian Bible, but viewers who have commented on the movie, whether or not they are Christian, whether or not they are religious, tend to agree that the film is a work of art, not a religious artifact.

The movie leaves that up to the viewers. Viewers have suggested four possibilities: (1) Johannes is a disturbed man who believes that he is Jesus Christ, (2) Johannes is indeed a reincarnation of Jesus Christ, (3) Johannes is an earthly vessel for the spirit of Jesus Christ, and (4) Johannes' belief in Jesus Christ is so great that it allows him to work miracles.

Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) was a Danish philosopher whose major works explored the relationship between human reality and subjective Christian belief.

As Inger lies in state, the mourners drink coffee and sing hymns while the Borgens await the arrival of the reverend and the coach for the funeral procession to the church. Peter Peterson comes to pay his respects, to make peace with Morten, and to offer his daughter's hand to Anders. As the lid is about to be placed on Inger's coffin, Johannes returns. He scolds the family for not having enough faith in God to ask Him to return Inger to them. Little Maren (Ann Elisabeth Groth) reminds Johannes of his promise to make Inger rise again, so Johannes bids Inger to rise "in the name of Jesus Christ." Inger's hands begin to move, and she opens her eyes while everyone stands agape in wonder. Inger embraces Mikkel and asks about their baby. Having found his faith again, Mikkel informs her that the baby is living with God. In the final scene, Anders starts the clock. "Now time begins for us," Mikkel whispers to Inger.