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Lykkens blændværk (1919)
A gripping melodrama about infidleity
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!
70 on vain numero (2021)
Funny Finnish film.
"70 is just a number" (2021, Finland). Director: Johanna Voksenmaa. Main actors: Hanneli Lauri, Mikko Nousialainen, Miisa Palander and Marja Packalén.
I couldn't sleep one night and happened to see this film. I am very critical of films and particularly critical of comedies. "70 is just a number" is hilarious and I have not laughed so hard in a long time.
The three actresses do a formidable job, but I especially liked Palander in the role of the red-haired and plump Shanella.
Self-centered and vain pop diva Seija Kuula is about to turn 70, but hates when people point out her age. Strong make-up and countless wigs make her look younger. The much younger musician Lauri offers to write a song for her, and they sleep with each other already on the first night. It turns out that Lauri's mother, Mirre, is Seija's old friend. She is only ten months older than Seija. Mirre tells Seija that she has to break up with her son, because he wants a child. She also says that he divorced his wife because she did not want a child.
Seija suggests that her overweight stylist Shanella, 43, should become the mother of his child. Seija imagines that it will happen through artificial insemination and is concerned when Shanella wants it the real way.
Min ven privatdetektiven (1924)
A good old crime film
You have to be very prejudiced against silent films and brainwashed by modern film technology not to be charmed by "My friend the private detective" from 1924. It begins as a summery comedy, but when the evil Elisa Mogensen is written into the plot, it takes on a darker tone . The actors are natural, and there is little of the overacting you sometimes associate with films from that time. Norwegian Gunnar Tolnæs is charming in the role of a detective.
The sickly hunting master Niels Rømer of Rømersholm has married the much younger singer Elisa Mogensen, who soon found out that life on the estate was even more boring than she imagined. One day Elisa catches sight of the young and strong Anders, and is impressed when she sees him lifting a large tree trunk. Anders is the boyfriend of her stepdaughter Birthe. Elisa decides to seduce him. Elisa claims that she has sprained her foot, and asks Anders to carry her up to her bedroom. There she reveals that the injury was just a hoax, but Anders does not allow himself to be seduced. As Birthe and her father come in through the door, they see Anders trying to push Elisa away. She lets them believe that he has tried to molest her and says: "Niels, save me from that man!"
Birthe doesn't want to see him anymore. Anders must leave the estate. Elisa is found murdered in Birthe's room. Anders becomes the prime suspect.
Elisa didn't know that she unknowingly gave the real perpetrator an alibi.