In 17th century Denmark, religious fanaticism prevails and rules peoples' lives and usages creating a frozen society where witch hunting is one of the noblest activities. As usual that ice doesn't kill the fire that burns in the hearts nor the passion that torments the flesh, thus originating the usual hypocrisy in behaviour. Served by cold but beautiful images to which Dreyer has already accustomed us, this story of witch hunting, bigotry and injustice touches us by the deepness and beauty of sentiments revealed by the two young lovers contrasting with the abominable coldness of a world of intolerance and poverty of ideas that surrounds them. The black and white images contribute to create an atmosphere totally adequate to the development of the plot together with the extraordinary performance of the actors resulting in a gallery of characters whose greatness seldom was attained in the history of cinema. In a cold and realist scenery the characters move themselves slowly creating scenes and plans of an almost pictorial beauty. However behind their faces we can see the sentiments that animate them: love, hate, passion, fanaticism and hypocrisy. Their dress is extremely rigorous according to the portrayed epoch. A beautiful movie, not to be missed.
Review of Day of Wrath
