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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Danmarksfilmen remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like a dusty, half-forgotten dream, you’ll probably dig Danmarksfilmen. It’s not for people who need a plot or characters to tell them how to feel. If you’re the type who gets bored when there isn't a car chase every ten minutes, stay far away from this one. It’s slow, it’s rhythmic, and it’s deeply, strangely Danish. 🇩🇰
The whole thing feels like Poul Henningsen just went for a long walk with a camera and decided to edit it while listening to jazz. There’s no big lecture about the state of the nation. It just is.
There’s this one sequence with the waves crashing against the coast that goes on for a long, long time. I found myself staring at the grain of the film, thinking about the person who shot that footage nearly a century ago. They didn't know I'd be watching it in my pajamas on a Tuesday. That’s the magic of it, I guess.
It’s funny how a movie from the 20s can feel more modern than some stuff coming out of Hollywood today. It doesn't try to force a narrative structure like The Movie Daredevil, which always felt a bit too eager to please. This just drifts.
Sometimes the editing is surprisingly sharp, though. One moment you’re looking at a quiet farm, and suddenly you’re in the middle of a bustling market. It gives you whiplash in the best way possible.
It’s not perfect. It gets a bit repetitive around the middle, almost like the film itself forgot where it was going. But then it hits you with a shot of a bicycle leaning against a wall, and you’re back in. It’s a bit like watching Tragédia de Amor—you spend half the time wondering what the hell is happening, but you can't look away.
Maybe it’s not meant to be analyzed. Just watch it. Let the images wash over you. It’s better that way. 🎥