Ordet (The Word) Reviews
East Bay Express
Tragedy strikes, and petty denominational squabbles disintegrate in Dreyer's sublime synthesis of humanistic and textual faith, a vision of purity and clarity.
Antagony & Ecstasy
The greatest movie about religion.
Full Review
| Original Score: 10/10
Combustible Celluloid
Dreyer's Ordet (1955) is far simpler than his previous films, taking place mostly in a single set, but also more complex.
Little White Lies
Guaranteed to make you levitate from your cinema seat in awe.
Full Review
| Original Score: 5/5
A strange, wondrous and shocking work. Once seen, it's unlikely to leave you.
Full Review
| Original Score: 5/5
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A moving work of great intelligence, compassion and sensitivity.
Full Review
| Original Score: A+
Cinemania
Ordet's faithfulness is both old fashioned and invigorating
Full Review
| Original Score: 90/100
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
With arresting faces but not cluttered with close-ups, attention-getting camera abilities beyond judicious lighting, or mood music, the film builds to a long emotional finale of biblical parallel.
Urban Cinefile
Reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman's spare style when exploring similar themes (eg The Seventh Seal), Dryer's work is disciplined and focused, rather like a Jesuit, really.
Observer [UK]
There are only 114 shots, each averaging over a minute, only three close-ups, and the film demands and rewards the closest attention.
Decent Films Guide
Dreyer is digging deeper than these slogans ["institutional religion" versus "personalized faith"], to the regions of mystery where Johannes's mind was lost.
Full Review
| Original Score: A+
Total Film
At first glance it may seem slow, but stick with it and the psychological tensions enthral.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Q Network Film Desk
A rare work about spiritual life and the conflicts of earthly bodies and heavenly desires that doesn't denigrate or simplify religion despite the flawed nature of the characters and of the institution of religion itself.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/4
Guardian [UK]
A film with a hypnotic, irresistible stare.
Full Review
| Original Score: 5/5
New York Times
Top CriticBoth emotionally and intellectually the picture is hypnotic, and some portions will nail the spectator to his seat.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
TV Guide's Movie Guide
This is an overwhelming emotional and intellectual experience, thanks both to its subject matter and its austere yet potent presentation.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/4
