Many surviving silent films hold up well, but while some are outstanding classics, not all are made equal. I'm pleased that 'The parson's widow' is an example of a title that remains fresh and engaging. True, just as much as revisiting such old movies is a bit of a trip through time, the focus here on a small Christian parish is perhaps a tad alien to modern viewers, to say nothing of the very notion of the bizarre custom underlying the premise. Yet that is the impetus for the plot, equal parts comedy and lighthearted drama, and with that the feature remains smart, playful, and worthwhile.
The filming locations and set design and decoration are fetching, and I appreciate the costume design, and hair and makeup work. While some of the sequencing could stand to be more mindful, overall the editing is wonderfully sharp and adds to the viewing experience. Whether credit for that aspect is owed to filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer or his collaborators, or preservationists in more recent years, is a matter of some question, but either way it's well executed. Dreyer illustrates fine skills as director, and his cast capably realize their characters with suitable personality and nuanced range, with star Einar Röd especially standing out.
'The parson's widow' is a great picture in general, though still more than anything else it's the writing that's most critical. There, too, Dreyer impresses, even as this is one of his earliest works as a filmmaker. Plentiful, pleasant situational humor characterizes the levity throughout - forefront at the start, then nicely balancing the more (relatively) serious drama as the length proceeds. Though never robustly funny, the comedy is consistently clever as protagonist Söfren, prospective fiancée Mari, and title figure Margarete dance around an uncomfortable scenario and a slight sense of power dynamics. There's mild tension carried through these scenes as well, and the result is a feature that deftly bears a tone that's light, but not farcical, and dramatic, but not ponderous.
I'm honestly rather delighted at just how excellent this is. Not all modern viewers can abide silent films, which I do understand, but this is so roundly enjoyable that I'd have to imagine even the most stubborn of hold-outs may find it appealing to at least some degree. Even in 2022 comedy-dramas sometimes have difficulty finding an even keel, but Dreyer achieved it here with an ease and gracefulness that's commendable. Rounded out with themes of love, patience, and linking generations together, 'The parson's widow' is an unexpectedly strong picture that continues to stand fantastically tall more than 100 years later. My recommendation can only be as earnest and heartfelt as this is - it's a lovely title that deserves more recognition and fond remembrance.
The filming locations and set design and decoration are fetching, and I appreciate the costume design, and hair and makeup work. While some of the sequencing could stand to be more mindful, overall the editing is wonderfully sharp and adds to the viewing experience. Whether credit for that aspect is owed to filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer or his collaborators, or preservationists in more recent years, is a matter of some question, but either way it's well executed. Dreyer illustrates fine skills as director, and his cast capably realize their characters with suitable personality and nuanced range, with star Einar Röd especially standing out.
'The parson's widow' is a great picture in general, though still more than anything else it's the writing that's most critical. There, too, Dreyer impresses, even as this is one of his earliest works as a filmmaker. Plentiful, pleasant situational humor characterizes the levity throughout - forefront at the start, then nicely balancing the more (relatively) serious drama as the length proceeds. Though never robustly funny, the comedy is consistently clever as protagonist Söfren, prospective fiancée Mari, and title figure Margarete dance around an uncomfortable scenario and a slight sense of power dynamics. There's mild tension carried through these scenes as well, and the result is a feature that deftly bears a tone that's light, but not farcical, and dramatic, but not ponderous.
I'm honestly rather delighted at just how excellent this is. Not all modern viewers can abide silent films, which I do understand, but this is so roundly enjoyable that I'd have to imagine even the most stubborn of hold-outs may find it appealing to at least some degree. Even in 2022 comedy-dramas sometimes have difficulty finding an even keel, but Dreyer achieved it here with an ease and gracefulness that's commendable. Rounded out with themes of love, patience, and linking generations together, 'The parson's widow' is an unexpectedly strong picture that continues to stand fantastically tall more than 100 years later. My recommendation can only be as earnest and heartfelt as this is - it's a lovely title that deserves more recognition and fond remembrance.