Title: Häxan Alternate Titles: The Witches, Witchcraft Through the Ages Year: 1922 Director: Benjamin Christensen Production Company: Svensk Filmindustri Runtime: 105 minutes (restored version) Country: Sweden/Denmark Language: Silent film with Swedish intertitles Format: Black and White Genres: Horror, Documentary, Essay Film --- Synopsis: Häxan is a pioneering blend of documentary and dramatized narrative that explores the history and superstitions surrounding witchcraft from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. The film combines scholarly commentary with vivid reenactments, illustrating how misunderstandings of mental and neurological disorders may have led to the witch hunts and mass hysteria of earlier times. --- Cast: Benjamin Christensen as the Devil Maren Pedersen as Maria the Weaver (a supposed witch) Clara Pontoppidan as Sister Cecilia Oscar Stribolt as Fat Monk Astrid Holm as Anna, wife of Jesper the printer Elith Pio as Johannes, Witch Judge Karen Winther as Anna's Sister Others include Ella la Cour, Emmy Schønfeld, Kate Fabian, and Ib Schønberg --- Production Notes: Director Benjamin Christensen spent two years researching witchcraft, drawing inspiration from the 15th-century inquisitor's guide Malleus Maleficarum. Filmed in Denmark between 1920 and 1921, Häxan was the most expensive Scandinavian silent film at the time, with a budget nearing two million Swedish kronor. The film employed innovative special effects, including stop-motion animation and superimposition, to depict scenes of witchcraft and the occult. --- Legacy: Upon its release, Häxan faced censorship in several countries due to its graphic content and anti-clerical themes. However, it has since been recognized as a classic, noted for its unique fusion of documentary and horror elements. The film has undergone multiple restorations and is included in the Criterion Collection, highlighting its enduring significance in cinematic history. --- Trivia: In 1968, the film was re-released in the United States under the title Witchcraft Through the Ages, featuring narration by William S. Burroughs and a jazz score by Daniel Humair. Häxan is listed in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, underscoring its cultural and historical importance. --- Curated Hashtags: #Häxan #1920sCinema #SilentFilm #DocumentaryHorror #BenjaminChristensen #WitchcraftFilm #CriterionCollection