Movie Discussion: Gertrud (1964) by Carl Theodor Dreyer

“Gertrud is a film that I made with my heart” — the Danish master Carl Theodor Dreyer’s last film neatly crowns his career: a meditation on happiness, individual will, and the refusal to compromise. A woman leaves her unfulfilling marriage and embarks on a search for ideal love — but neither a passionate affair with a younger man nor the return of an old romance can provide the answer she seeks. Always the stylistic innovator, Dreyer employs intricate camera movements, long takes, and theatrical staging to concentrate on Nina Pens Rode’s sublime portrayal of the proud and courageous Gertrud.

"An enigmatically modern film with the deceptive air of a staidly old fashioned one." (The Spectator)

"As richly mysterious and inscrutable as it is earthy and wry." (Slant)

"I would imagine that many would find it unwatchable, or would incorrectly deem it uncinematic, but it understands the language of cinema better than nearly any film that I've seen. Every cut, every pan, every zoom matters." (Rotten Tomatoes)

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Let's discuss the 1964 film Gertrud directed and written by the great Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer, recently voted the 136th greatest movie of all time in Sight & Sound's international survey of film critics and scholars, and the 140th greatest movie of all time in the related poll of filmmakers. The film opened to divided responses but is now considered one of Dreyer's best works.

We previously discussed Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), Ordet (1955), and Vampyr (1932) in this group.

Please watch the movie in advance and bring your thoughts, reactions, and queries to share with us at the meeting.

You can stream it here (check the player settings for English subtitles and to adjust quality) or rent it on Criterion or other platforms online.

Check out other movie discussions in the group every Friday and occasionally other days.