Korkarlen
1921/SWE 93m Dir: Victor Sjostrom Key Cast: Victor Sjostrom
Based on: Thy Soul Shall Bear Witness! by Selma Lagerlof (Novel)
I loved the premise of this film. The very last person who dies every year is tasked with driving Death’s carriage for the year. It’s an ingenious idea and the film seems to suggest that the time of death is pre-ordained.
This premise is used as a tool to tell a sort of A Christmas Carol-style supernatural redemption story. David Holm is a horrible person who makes the life of his wife miserable due to getting drunk all the time. He’s also what we’d now refer to as a superspreader as he passes TB to everyone, including an angelic Salvation Army nurse. Whilst the film does just about make you feel sorry for him once he has an epiphany it’s a shame that no attempt is made to make him in any way likeable.
I didn’t love the story but the production is stunning. The ghosts look amazing and actually look more the ethereal and generally real than most modern CGI spirits. Even beyond that, the lighting here is really well done with light sources like lamps used to illuminate the scene. The whole film manages to feel real rather than like a film set.
The visuals in this film are really memorable and it’s easy to see how it inspired subsequent filmmakers to create the likes of It’s a Wonderful Life, The Seventh Seal and The Shining, the latter of which replicates this film’s insane axe moment.
I didn’t love the story but the premise is wonderful and this is the earliest film I’ve seen which looks utterly fantastic.
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