A miracle

With these words, Johannes, the pious son of the family, lies down in front of the coffin containing Inger, the dead daughter-in-law. He folds his hands and prays; no almost commands:
 
"Hear me, you dead woman. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Grave Buster: If God wants this. Return to life. I say to you, woman, rise!"
 
And Inger rises. After having lain in a coffin for five days in the best parlour of the house, she returns to life.

Struggle for God
We are in Western Jutland in the 1920s; an impoverished and religious part of Denmark. For 50 years, old Mikkel Borgen has struggled to introduce the forgiving and mild Christianity, "Grundtvigianism". His project has succeeded - if it wasn't for the Danish version of the Home Mission which, through its revival meetings and confession, "... makes God the chairman of a party", as Mikkel Borgen puts it. This part of Christianity also wins followers; so many indeed, that the little community is nearly split in two.

Mikkel Borgen's own family is not untouched by the conflict either. Anders, the son, is in love with a young girl, Anne. But Anne belongs to the "obscurantists" at the Home Mission, and both Mikkel Borgen and the girl's father resist the love of the young couple.

The poet priest
Kaj Munk was Denmark's great poet priest. Until his much too early death - he was shot by Nazi soldiers in 1944 - he wrote poems, articles and plays from his vicarage in Vedersoe in Western Jutland. All his writings were permeated with great faith. Faith in God, and in the word of God, as the mild and healing element in a harsh life.

This is also the essence of Ordet (The Word). The daughter-in-law of the house dies in childbirth, and at her deathbed the two old fathers give in and allow their children, Anders and Anne, to marry. One miracle leads to another. Soon afterwards Inger is awoken from the dead by the pious Johannes and his great faith.

Lone Nyhuus is a former dancer and choreographer. As a freelance journalist she works for the DR P2 radio programme Teatermagasinet (The Theatre Magazine).