Ordet

Autumn 1925 sets the scene on a rural Danish farm. Morten is a devout widower and patriarch, a prominent parish patron who oversees his three sons: Mikkel, who has no faith; Johannes, who believes himself to be Jesus; and Anders, who loves Anne Petersen. The family grapples with faith, duty, and the prospect of marriage within a tight-knit community.

Anders tells Mikkel and Inger that he loves Anne Petersen, the daughter of the village tailor. The family agrees to try to persuade Morten to consent to the match. The tension sets up a clash between personal longing and communal expectations.

Inger urges Morten to permit the marriage, appealing to his sense of family and future grandchildren. Morten initially refuses, but his stance softens when he learns that Peter the Tailor has refused Anders’s proposal as well. The scene highlights the stakes of faith and obedience in the village.

Morten and Anders go to Peter in hopes of a betrothal agreement. Peter insists that the men join his orthodox church as a condition of acceptance. The negotiation is tense and religious lines are drawn, threatening the betrothal even before it begins.

As the discussion collapses into sectarian bickering, Inger goes into a difficult labor. The doctor cannot save the baby but can save Inger’s life, while Peter outwardly hopes for tragedy to sway Morten toward his church. The household is plunged into fear and anger as the family faces loss.

Johannes tells his father that death is near and that only true faith can spare Inger. Morten refuses to listen, clinging to his beliefs. Inger dies suddenly, shattering the fragile peace of the family and community.

Before Inger’s funeral, Peter realizes he has wronged Morten and reconciles with him at Inger’s open coffin. He agrees to permit Anne and Anders to marry, seeking a peaceful resolution despite previous conflicts. The family gathers with mixed emotions as the town prepares for the wake.

Johannes interrupts the wake and proclaims that the dead can be raised if the family has faith. A childlike belief from Inger’s daughter begs him to try, pushing the moment toward a miraculous test of faith. The family watches with cautious hope as spiritual fervor fills the room.

As the faith-filled moment unfolds, Inger suddenly breathes and twitches in her coffin. Johannes praises the daughter’s faith and wins the moment, while Morten and Peter rejoice despite their earlier disagreements. The line between miracle and belief becomes a turning point for the community.

With Inger alive, Morten embraces his faith, and even Mikkel begins to believe. The brothers and villagers realize that personal conviction can coexist with community tradition. The film closes on a note of hope as faith is reaffirmed and the family begins anew.