Made in Denmark under the Nazi Occupation, this is perhaps the starkest
of all Dreyer's austere studies of human pain. It lacks the redemptive
qualities of Ordet or The Passion Of Joan Of Arc; but the perfection of
Dreyer's technique is unarguable. Slow tracking shots draw the viewer
through bleak stone chambers, where an implacable project of
repression is implemented; the sunny springtime landscapes provide
only a temporary escape. The execution and trial sequences are
outstanding even by Dreyer's standards. Lisbeth Movin is excellent in
the lead role, and the film is also distinguished by subtle monochrome
camerawork.
