Gertrud

Carl Dreyer made only five sound films in his career (one of which he disowned) beginning with Vampyr in 1932 and concluding with this film in 1964. Along with his previous film, Ordet, this is probably his most austere and minimalist film. Based on a play, the film unfolds in beautifully lit single static shots, that often hold for the entire scene. It centers on a woman named Gertrud and the three men in her life: her businessman husband whom she feels is neglecting her for his work, her bohemian composer lover who may be more fickle and bohemian than she'd like, and a famous poet who was her lover many years ago and still seems interested in her. The script feels as if it could have been written by Eric Rohmer -- it has that meandering talkiness involving a quest for lasting love. Unfortunately, I don't think this film holds up to Dreyer's previous masterpieces, The Passion of Joan of Arc, Vampyr, Day of Wrath, and Ordet. As beautiful as it is at times, it lacks the zeal and spiritual vigor of his finest films and ends up being a little bit too inappropriately theatrical for my tastes.