DAY OF WRATH

Denmark, 1943, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Thorkild Roose, Lisbeth Movin, Sigrid Neiiendam, Preben Lerdoff Rye, Anna Svierkier.
Directed by Carl Dreyer.

Day of Wrath is the 1943 masterpiece by classic director Carl Theodor Dreyer. Directing in Denmark from the silent era, he made such films as Master of the House, Michael, and also the classic Passion of Joan of Arc. He moved into the sound era with the film Vampyr. His other films are Ordet and his last film, Gertrud.

Dreyer is considered one of the transcendent directors (the language of Paul Schrader to describe the austere cinema of Ozu and Bresson). This is particularly clear in the subject and style of Day of Wrath. It has a post-Reformation, 17th century setting. The atmosphere is particularly religious (of the reform style). However, passion lurks beneath formality and lust and passion are currents which burst out into violence. There is religious retribution, mirroring that of the righteous in Puritan communities, with vengeance directed towards witches. The film captures a Scandinavian version of the concern about witches and witchcraft in 17th century Europe.

The reference of the title is to the mediaeval hymn for All Souls' Day (originally from the prophecies of Zephaniah): The day of wrath, the day of anger, the dreadful day of judgment.

1. The work of Carl Theodor Dreyer? His style, `transcendence'? Style and theme?

2. The atmosphere of Denmark? Scandinavia? The 17th century? The society, its grimness, austerity, religious dedication? Moral stances? Yet superstition and cruelty? The contrast between the 17th century and the 20th century? The film coming out in 1943? Its comment on the '40s and Europe in World War Two?

3. The black and white photography, the rectory, the exteriors of the town, the burning? Editing and pace? The musical score, its classic tone? The music of the hymn `Dies Irae'?

4. The title and its reference to the hymn, to the biblical texts? Its significance in relationship to God, judgment, human beings, sin, expiation, forgiveness?

5. Marte: her place in the household? A young woman of the period? The winter, the brew, cry, escape, the crowd? The background of witchcraft? The witches and their denunciation? The role of religious authorities? Her life in the rectory? Anne, the plea, hiding, caught? Absolom? Trial, the death, ceremony? The burning - the cursing and her death? The consequences?

6. The world of the rectory and religion? Absolom as a serious man? His age, love, lust? Absolom's mother and her severity? Her ruling the rectory? Clashes? Marte? The arrival, the bond? The dangers? The decisions, the death? The ministry and his fatigue? Anne and the confrontation? Bitterness? The significance of the clash, of Anne and the confrontation? Her death? Revenge?

7. Absolom's mother and her harshness, age and experience? The keys? The clash? The denunciation? Martin? Watching? Grief? The denunciation and her conquering?

8. Anne as attractive, her background, the mother, the marriage, dutiful, ideal? The mother and the keys? Martin's arrival? The song and the lyrics? Marte and her help? Marte's death? The affair, her attitude? The lyric of the song? Anne and her death? Martin and the betrayal? The trial, the question of the ordeal, the demand for the confession? The final impact?

9. Martin as a good young man, ordinary, his return, love, the affair, its effect? Death and his final stances?

10. The role of the clergy in society, worship, moral codes, severity? Witchcraft and superstition? The moral judgments? The ordeal, the executions? Witchcraft as a projection of the religious and psychological attitudes of the people? The visual imagery of religion, especially church, the altar, the bible, the crucifix?

11. The comments on European religion in society, grace and damnation, superstition and truth?