The Parson's Widow

Generally regarded as the first real Dreyer film. It tells the story of a poor young minister recently out of seminary who tries to get a position as pastor in a rural church. When he is awarded the position, he discovers a ridiculous local custom that demands the new pastor take the wife of the former (now deceased) pastor. However, our young minister has long been engaged to a woman, so passes his beloved off as his sister and marries the old crone, who has outlived three husbands, on the hope that she'll kick it soon and then he'll have the ministry and his woman. Well, of course a few years go by and she's still alive. Dreyer is still finding himself with this one, but he manages to give depth to mostly one-dimensional characters. It's worth it primarily for closure on this true giant of international cinema.