You guys know that Easter is a pagan holiday, right? That's where the eggs and rabbits and maypoles come from. In the spirit of Ostara, here's a movie about witches. But, because life is confusing and generally lacking in pastel softness, it's a Danish silent film from the 20's illustrated by medieval woodcuts. You're welcome.Filmmaker Benjamin Christensen takes us back through the dark times of witch burning to draw parallels between the mania of religiously-condoned murder and "modern" psychotherapy. Modern being a relative term when more than half the diagnoses consist of labelling a woman hysterical and locking her in an institution for her own good. But, hey, it's better than thumbscrews and drowning, amirite, ladies?
The Criterion Collection blu-ray also includes the 1968 re-release, with a nifty jazz score and a rather boring voiceover. Skip it and watch the silent version instead. It's trippy and insane, therefore much more entertaining.
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