Ac] Dies Irae 1943 — [cb01

(internationally known as Day of Wrath or Vredens dag ), released in 1943 , is a masterpiece of Danish cinema directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer . Background & Context

Against the backdrop of merciless witch hunts, an old woman named Marte is accused of witchcraft and eventually burned at the stake. Before her death, she reveals that Absalon saved Anne’s own mother from a similar fate to secure Anne's hand in marriage. [cb01 ac] Dies Irae 1943

Filmed during the , the movie is often interpreted as an allegory for the social repression and paranoia of that era. Dreyer left for Sweden shortly after its premiere to escape potential persecution. It is based on the 1909 play Anne Pedersdotter by Hans Wiers-Jenssen, which itself draws from a 16th-century Norwegian witchcraft case. Plot Synopsis (internationally known as Day of Wrath or Vredens

Anne, a young woman, is married to the elderly and stern Pastor Absalon. Their loveless union is further strained by Absalon’s overbearing and suspicious mother, Merete. Filmed during the , the movie is often

The story is set in (specifically 1623) within a strictly religious Lutheran community.

When Absalon’s son, Martin—who is roughly Anne's age—returns home, he and Anne fall into a passionate and forbidden romance.

Haunted by guilt and the belief that she may have inherited supernatural powers, Anne's life unravels. After Absalon’s sudden death, Merete accuses her of using witchcraft to kill him. Abandoned by a guilt-stricken Martin, Anne eventually confesses to the "sin" of sorcery. Artistic Style