Dave S
Carl Dreyer's Gertrud is a simple film about a woman (Nina Pens Rode) in search of love. Leaving her husband, a distant man with political ambitions, due to his inattention, she believes that she has found love with a young pianist, only to be disappointed again. It is a story of unreciprocated love for a woman who desires nothing more than to be loved. Gertrud is immediately identifiable as a Dreyer film as the result of its long takes and austere presentation. Where it falters, to a degree, is the fact that it has more of a theatrical sensibility than a cinematic one – the actors rarely make eye contact, instead opting to stare out at an imaginary audience. Being Dreyer's last film, it is a bit of a disappointing way to end his career, but rewards can be found for those willing to wade through the slow points.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/23/23
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s r
1001 movies to see before you die. A sad realist film showing the pains and loneliness of a well to do woman who is desired, but not in the ways she wants. It was slow and methodical with the characters not really talking to each other. They always seemed to face away like a play. The shots were also long, only 90 shots in 2 hours. The actors were good. It was on Internet Archive.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
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William L
It's a beautiful and devastating (if rather dated) premise, a woman who cherishes an idealized portrait of romance that prevents her from accepting practical shortcomings in real relationships, at least in a permanent sense. But dang if Dreyer doesn't love his slow pacing, and for me, when that style of storytelling meets a narrative that seems like a European knockoff of Tennessee Williams, it can often become hard to pay consistently close attention. Joan of Arc had tangible consequences to its actions and emotion in every silent word, Ordet had sincere drama, but Gertrud rests in more overtly philosophical and sometimes melodramatic territory that really requires a very particular mood to enjoy. However, if you like long takes that are actually long, and characters staring off into the foreground to check their lines because they'd have to memorize ten minutes' worth at a time otherwise, then boy oh boy do I have the film for you. (3.5/5)
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
11/28/20
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Audience Member
Although seen by some as being slow, still and sombre, I feel it is also beautiful in its own way. It offers one of the most stunning cinematography in black and white (there's something with Dreyer, and also Bergman's films and Tarkovsky's Andrei Rublev, where the cinematography looks just sharp and pretty in black and white). The story is very melancholic yet poignant, you feel for Gertrud's character (played brilliantly yet subtly by Nina Pens Rode) as she goes through isolation and doubt when it comes to who she loves. But what really impressed me is how expertly done were the long takes and its rather poignant ending, which seems like a great way to end Dreyer's filmography. Gertrud is perhaps my favourite Dreyer film, although Ordet, Day of Wrath and Passion of Joan of Arc I also value as being masterpieces as well.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
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Audience Member
This film is a masterpiece in my opinion, and is the last film of the great Carl Theodor Dreyer, who directed one of my top ten films of all-time, "The Passion of Joan of Arc." This film is based on a play, and you can sense that as it is dialogue heavy, and often only two characters onscreen at a time. The story follows Getrud who is leaving a loveless marriage to pursue a relationship with her lover with whom she is in live with. Her husband has let her down and not lived up to her high standards of what she feels love should be, but her lover then in turn also lets her down, and she decides to isolate herself afterwards. The films has several themes are work, dealing with love, isolation, and people's expectations of what their life should be. The direction is excellent in my opinion, the film looks great, and even though there isn't a lot of action, and there are many static shots, the viewer is kept engaged. Nina Pens Rode is excellent in the lead role, and really anchors the film. I have a strong suspicion I will revisit this film more than once, and will discover new things with each progressive viewing. Highly recommended for serious films fans!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
scott s
Another great Dreyer film. A woman who is searching for love but can not find it is a classic modern tragedy in the hands of a master of cinema.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
03/30/23
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