The President

The President

Synopsis

Dazzlingly restored a few years ago, Dreyer's first feature is a typically sympathetic tale of female suffering, with a series of "commoners" left pregnant and otherwise betrayed by rich, powerful patriarchs. The melodrama is heightened by a complex interlocking narrative, but what impress most are the elegant compositions, the simple but meticulously detailed sets, and the careful selection of non-professionals with the "right" faces for minor roles and crowd scenes.