Jesus, can these people express one normal human emotion or at least look at each other occasionally when they speak? It's like an Asperger soap opera.
Now I've seen Gertrud I've watched Dreyer's five major films in order, starting with The Passion of Joan of Arc - which was nothing less than exceptional, now one of my very favourite films and my incentive to see the rest of his work. With each film of each decade I've found my tastes and his output have diverged and my admiration for his work lessen and lessen - culminating in Gertrud which I found almost unwatchable. I was uninterested in the interminable conversations about Gertrud's failed romances and idealised love, and a great deal of staring into the middle distance. It said absolutely nothing to me of the actual state of love or heartbreak, internalised to the point of parody, and I hardly cared else about any character as a result. Dreyer's sparse, appropriately dry telling didn't help that. Finally Gertrud herself comes across as arrogant, self-defeating, even delusional in her hopeless quest for a love worthy of her. Some like to call this a masterpiece, presumably because it's largely impenetrable and features Dreyer's usual mastery of the medium, but frankly it bored me senseless.
to comprehend love as "amor omnia" is not simple, as it demands self-giving. gertrud wasn't less of an amazing singer by loving, but, around her, that was the common sense. men despise the gift of love, how much easier for them is to abandon a child? gertrud is beautiful,
mise-en-scène is minimalist and sensible. the void of furniture, the eyelooks that hardly ever cross each other and the cold that creates an infertile environment are memorable.
These other comments have got it all wrong. This movie is not boring, it may be slow moving but it perfectly held my attention the whole way through. It may be one of Dreyer's weakest though, however it is still well worth a watch and highly recommended if you enjoyed his previous works.
Painfully dry and boring. I could not be more disconnected from Gertrud's ideas that love is the end-all-be-all of life. And I guess that's kind of the point? There's just endless scenes of wooden actors talking at each other. Im not a huge fan of stage plays (that may be some of my problem here) but I can appreciate a lot of the blocking in this.
But damn the main character is unlikable. Is she supposed to be punished for standing up for what she wants or is how she acts supposed to be viewed as prideful? Either way I don't really care. I could not find any of the passion here the characters seem to wax on and on about, so why should I care?
can't believe the guy who created great movies like ordet and the passion of joan of arc directed this torture too so pointless, and why the hell can't people talk face to face in this movie?? i guess dreyer was too old when he made this movie.
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Comments 1 - 11 of 11
greenhorg
Jesus, can these people express one normal human emotion or at least look at each other occasionally when they speak? It's like an Asperger soap opera.dombrewer
Now I've seen Gertrud I've watched Dreyer's five major films in order, starting with The Passion of Joan of Arc - which was nothing less than exceptional, now one of my very favourite films and my incentive to see the rest of his work. With each film of each decade I've found my tastes and his output have diverged and my admiration for his work lessen and lessen - culminating in Gertrud which I found almost unwatchable. I was uninterested in the interminable conversations about Gertrud's failed romances and idealised love, and a great deal of staring into the middle distance. It said absolutely nothing to me of the actual state of love or heartbreak, internalised to the point of parody, and I hardly cared else about any character as a result. Dreyer's sparse, appropriately dry telling didn't help that. Finally Gertrud herself comes across as arrogant, self-defeating, even delusional in her hopeless quest for a love worthy of her. Some like to call this a masterpiece, presumably because it's largely impenetrable and features Dreyer's usual mastery of the medium, but frankly it bored me senseless.FazzyOscar
The mirror scene is just a pure ART !!deckard.
i really could care less for the tedious whims of a middle aged woman with princess sydnrome.but, as usual with dreyer, cinematography was a safe harbor to take shelter.
coffeejazzlofi
mise-en-scène is minimalist and sensible. the void of furniture, the eyelooks that hardly ever cross each other and the cold that creates an infertile environment are memorable.
Cyarc
These other comments have got it all wrong. This movie is not boring, it may be slow moving but it perfectly held my attention the whole way through. It may be one of Dreyer's weakest though, however it is still well worth a watch and highly recommended if you enjoyed his previous works.mcmakattack
Painfully dry and boring. I could not be more disconnected from Gertrud's ideas that love is the end-all-be-all of life. And I guess that's kind of the point? There's just endless scenes of wooden actors talking at each other. Im not a huge fan of stage plays (that may be some of my problem here) but I can appreciate a lot of the blocking in this.But damn the main character is unlikable. Is she supposed to be punished for standing up for what she wants or is how she acts supposed to be viewed as prideful? Either way I don't really care. I could not find any of the passion here the characters seem to wax on and on about, so why should I care?
Darth Karcher
can't believe the guy who created great movies like ordet and the passion of joan of arc directed this torture too so pointless, and why the hell can't people talk face to face in this movie?? i guess dreyer was too old when he made this movie.xrobin87x
agreed, incredibly boringtob
http://english.carlthdreyer.dk/Films/Gertrud.aspxnicolaskrizan
incredibly boring and yet strangely fascinating somehowhttp://1001movies.posterous.com/991-10873