Ordet

Year: 1955

Runtime: 125 mins

Language: Danish

Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer

Drama

The three sons of devout Danish farmer Morten hold starkly different views of faith. Anders, the youngest, follows his father’s piety; Mikkel, the eldest, has abandoned belief; and Johannes, the middle child, is convinced he is Jesus Christ. When Mikkel’s wife Inger faces a dangerous childbirth, each family member’s convictions are challenged.

Ordet (1955) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the autumn of 1925 a modest farm in rural Denmark pulses with the rhythms of harvest, prayer, and the unspoken weight of tradition. At its heart stands Morten Borgen, a widowed patriarch whose life is woven from the threads of devout faith, community responsibility, and a steadfast adherence to the doctrines of his church. The land around the farmhouse is both a literal and figurative foundation, grounding the family while also echoing the quiet tensions that linger beneath the surface of daily life.

The Borgen household is defined by three very different sons. The youngest, Anders, embraces his father’s piety and carries a gentle hopefulness that colors his every action. The eldest, Mikkel, has turned his back on religious certainty, adopting a skeptical distance that sets him apart at family gatherings. Between them walks Johannes, a wandering soul whose recent immersion in the writings of Kierkegaard has led him to proclaim a startling conviction: that he is the living embodiment of Christ. Their diverging paths create a delicate balance, each brother embodying a distinct facet of belief, doubt, and yearning.

Against this backdrop, Inger, the matriarch, bears the quiet anticipation of a new child, a hopeful promise that magnifies the family’s emotional stakes. Simultaneously, Anders nurtures a tender romance with the village tailor’s daughter Anne, whose father Peter insists on a strict conformity to his own congregation as a condition for the union. This demand fuels a subtle clash between personal desire, familial loyalty, and the rigid expectations of faith, hinting at the larger questions that will test the Borgen household.

The film unfolds in a measured, lyrical tone, inviting viewers into a world where the ordinary and the spiritual intertwine. Through the lenses of love, duty, and the restless search for meaning, the story probes how devotion can both unite and unsettle, leaving each character poised on the brink of choices that may reshape the very fabric of their lives.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:32

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Movies about faith and family crisis like Ordet

Heartrending family dramas where personal faith is challenged by a profound loss.If you were moved by the spiritual struggle in Ordet, explore more movies like it. These dramas feature families facing tragedy, where faith is tested and characters are pushed to their emotional limits, often culminating in a bittersweet but hopeful resolution.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically unfold around a central family tragedy that acts as a crucible for faith. Characters with divergent beliefs—from devout to atheistic—are forced into a shared emotional experience. The journey often moves from deep sorrow and conflict toward a fragile, wonder-filled resolution that may involve a miracle or a profound change of heart.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a deep focus on the intersection of family bonds and spiritual belief during moments of extreme crisis. They balance heavy emotional themes like grief and doubt with a pace that allows for contemplation, resulting in a tone that is ultimately hopeful despite the pain.

Contemplative rural dramas about faith like Ordet

Slow-paced stories set in rural communities, exploring profound questions of faith and existence.For viewers who appreciated the deliberate pace and rural setting of Ordet, this list finds similar movies. Discover other slow-burn dramas set in rustic communities where characters engage in deep conversations about belief, doubt, and the possibility of miracles.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves characters living a simple, rural life who are confronted with complex theological or existential questions. Conflict arises from clashing worldviews within a tight-knit community. The plot is less about action and more about conversation, reflection, and the quiet, transformative power of the landscape itself.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific mood blend: the contemplative stillness of rural life combined with the intense, cerebral energy of a faith crisis. The setting is not just a location but a character that influences the pacing and tone, creating a unique atmosphere of grounded spirituality.

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