The Danish Film Institute intends to digitize all preserved Danish silent films and post them on its website.
Last night and this morning I watched "The Mirror of Fate" ( "Lykkens Blændværk") from 1919 directed by Emmanuel Gregers. Carlo Wieth, Elna Jørgen-Jensen and Gudrun Houlberg play the main characters.
The film's main theme is infidelity and its consequences for all persons involved.
SPOILER ALERT: Paul is the director of a large nursery. He is married to the faithful Alva, whom he finds unimaginative and boring. One day he meets the much younger and joyful Eva. Paul and Alva divorce. He marries Eva, but the marriage is a big disappointment. She is childish, irresponsible, frivolous and not very domestic. Alva has several common interests with her peer Blad.
The nursery's profitability has declined, and the only thing that can earn money is the "Alva orchid" (named after his wife). Against the old gardener's orders, Eva plucks up several orchids to give to her husband as a birthday present. Paul becomes enraged. He loses his position as a director.
Alva, on the other hand, makes her debut as a concert pianist. Eva both leaves her husband and their little daughter, Inger, to start a new life with Blad.
This is a moving film, which actually touched me. The scene, in which Alva runs her hand longingly over her husband's pillow, while he is flirting with Eva, almost made me cry.
It is liberating to see that once upon a time there were actors with more than one facial expression. And overacting, which characterized some silent films, is almost absent in this film.
I recommend this film!
Last night and this morning I watched "The Mirror of Fate" ( "Lykkens Blændværk") from 1919 directed by Emmanuel Gregers. Carlo Wieth, Elna Jørgen-Jensen and Gudrun Houlberg play the main characters.
The film's main theme is infidelity and its consequences for all persons involved.
SPOILER ALERT: Paul is the director of a large nursery. He is married to the faithful Alva, whom he finds unimaginative and boring. One day he meets the much younger and joyful Eva. Paul and Alva divorce. He marries Eva, but the marriage is a big disappointment. She is childish, irresponsible, frivolous and not very domestic. Alva has several common interests with her peer Blad.
The nursery's profitability has declined, and the only thing that can earn money is the "Alva orchid" (named after his wife). Against the old gardener's orders, Eva plucks up several orchids to give to her husband as a birthday present. Paul becomes enraged. He loses his position as a director.
Alva, on the other hand, makes her debut as a concert pianist. Eva both leaves her husband and their little daughter, Inger, to start a new life with Blad.
This is a moving film, which actually touched me. The scene, in which Alva runs her hand longingly over her husband's pillow, while he is flirting with Eva, almost made me cry.
It is liberating to see that once upon a time there were actors with more than one facial expression. And overacting, which characterized some silent films, is almost absent in this film.
I recommend this film!