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| A fascinating, extremely detailed and eerie poster for Benjamin Christensen's Häxan, which mixes sexuality and satanism in its erotic imagery |
Häxan begins in a lecture-like fashion with presentation of historical representations of world views, Satan and witch culture, and later delves into these areas as both nonfiction and fictionalized fantasy.
Häxan is written and directed by great Danish filmmaker Benjamin Christensen (Sealed Orders/Det Hemmelighedsfulde X (1914)). The original title translates to 'the witch'.
The many text cards in this deeply remarkable silent film inhabit a distinct and keen, underlying intelligence, which is not without humor, and if one has the ability to lose oneself in Häxan, the film can cast an almost hypnotic spell on you. It later evolves into fictional depictions of the fantasies and practices of the Middle Ages, sometimes with acerbic commentaries added to them, and a good deal of them wholly without music.
Nothing in Häxan will make you think that it was shot in Denmark, (unless you recognize some of the few locally well-known Danish actors in it.) The impression is rather intensely otherworldly, and particularly the many devil scenes (with Christensen playing Satan!) are haunting material. Häxan is an extraordinary film about Europe's hair-raising past as it relates to witches and witch culture.
Related posts:
Benjamin Christensen: Top 10: Best Danish movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Watch a modern trailer for the film here
Cost: 1.5-2 mil. SEK
Box office: Unknown
= Uncertain
[Häxan was released 18 September (Sweden) and runs 105 minutes. Christensen had found a copy of the 15th century German inquisitor's guide Malleus Maleficarum in a bookshop in Berlin and then developed his script from 1919-1921, where he was able to get extensive funding - and artistic freedom, - from Svensk Filmindustri. He bought and refurbished the Astra film studio in Hellerup, Zealand, Denmark, North of Copenhagen. Shooting took place there from February - October 1921. The production was the most expensive in Scandinavia ever undertaken at the time, and is still considered the most expensive Scandinavian silent film ever made. The Swedish censors required extensive cuts of brutality and nudity prior to release. The film premiered simultaneously in 4 Swedish cities and 2 months later in Copenhagen, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra performing live. It was screened in several countries over the course of many years, reportedly first coming to America in 1929. In 1968 it was re-released in North America, re-edited to 74 minutes, with a new narration by William S. Burroughs and a jazz score. Though made by a Danish filmmaker and shot in Denmark, the film is mostly considered Swedish, (because funding came from a Swedish production company.) Christensen returned with Hvem Er Hans Kone? (1923). Häxan is fresh at 91 % with a 7.50/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
What do you think of Häxan?
