Blind Justice

Plot

On New Year's Eve, convicted murderer Strong Henry escapes from prison and retrieves his young son from an orphanage. Desperate to feed his child, he breaks into a local manor seeking milk but is discovered by Eva, a young woman who takes pity on the fugitive father and offers to help. However, their encounter is interrupted when other manor occupants awaken and alert the authorities, leading to Henry's recapture. Fourteen years later, after completing his sentence, Henry is consumed by the belief that Eva betrayed him to the police. Driven by vengeance and the desire to reunite with his long-lost son, he embarks on a dark quest for retribution that will ultimately reveal the truth about what really happened that fateful night.

Historical Background

The film was produced in 1916 during the height of World War I, when Denmark's neutrality allowed its film industry to flourish while many European competitors were disrupted by the conflict. This period, often called the 'Golden Age of Danish Cinema,' saw Danish films achieve international recognition for their technical innovation and narrative sophistication. The film's themes of justice, redemption, and social marginalization reflected broader European concerns during the war years. The year 1916 also saw significant developments in film language, with longer feature films becoming standard and more complex psychological narratives emerging. Christensen's work represented the Danish film industry's shift toward more sophisticated storytelling that would influence international cinema.

Making Of

Benjamin Christensen was a meticulous filmmaker who often took multiple roles in his productions. For 'Blind Justice', he not only directed and starred but was heavily involved in the screenplay development. The film was shot during a period when Danish cinema was at its creative peak, with studios experimenting with narrative complexity and psychological depth. Christensen's method acting approach was unusual for the time, as he immersed himself deeply in the character of Strong Henry. The production faced challenges typical of the era, including limited lighting equipment and the need to shoot in natural light. The manor scenes were reportedly filmed in an actual Danish estate, adding authenticity to the production. The child actor playing Henry's son was discovered through a casting call at a local school, as was common practice for Danish productions of the period.

Visual Style

The film employed the sophisticated cinematography techniques characteristic of Danish cinema's golden age. Cinematographer Jens Anker utilized natural lighting and innovative camera movements to enhance the psychological tension of key scenes. The prison sequences featured dramatic shadows and stark contrasts that prefigured German Expressionist cinema. The manor interiors were shot with careful attention to period detail and spatial relationships. Christensen's background in visual arts influenced the film's compositional sophistication, with careful framing and symbolic use of space and light. Like many Danish films of the era, it likely employed color tinting to enhance emotional impact and indicate different times of day.

Innovations

The film demonstrated several technical innovations characteristic of Danish cinema's golden age. Christensen employed sophisticated editing techniques to build psychological tension, including cross-cutting between parallel actions. The film's use of location shooting in actual Danish estates added production value uncommon for the period. The prison escape sequence featured innovative camera work and stunt coordination that impressed contemporary audiences. The film's narrative structure, with its fourteen-year time jump, was relatively sophisticated for 1916. Christensen's direction showed advanced understanding of visual storytelling techniques that would influence subsequent European cinema.

Music

As a silent film, 'Blind Justice' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical run. The score would have been provided by a theater organist or small orchestra, typically using compiled classical pieces or popular melodies appropriate to the film's mood. Danish cinemas of the era often employed musicians who could improvise accompaniment tailored to each film's emotional arc. The film's tense and emotional sequences would have been enhanced by dramatic musical selections, while quieter moments might have featured more subtle accompaniment. No original score survives, as was typical for silent films of the period.

Memorable Scenes

• The tense prison escape sequence on New Year's Eve, where Strong Henry navigates the darkness and snow to freedom, showcasing Christensen's innovative use of shadows and movement to create suspense and desperation

What Critics Said

Contemporary Danish critics praised the film for its psychological depth and Christensen's powerful performance in the lead role. Reviews in Danish film journals of the era noted the film's moral complexity and technical polish. However, international reception was limited due to wartime distribution challenges. Modern film historians recognize 'Blind Justice' as an important early work in Christensen's filmography, though it remains overshadowed by his later masterpiece 'Häxan'. Critics today appreciate the film's sophisticated treatment of its themes and its role in the development of Danish cinema's distinctive style. The film is often cited in studies of early Scandinavian cinema as an example of the period's narrative sophistication.

What Audiences Thought

Danish audiences of 1916 reportedly responded positively to the film's emotional intensity and Christensen's compelling performance. The film's themes of paternal love and redemption resonated with wartime audiences grappling with questions of morality and justice. However, like many films of the silent era, detailed audience reception records are scarce. The film's local success in Denmark contributed to Christensen's growing reputation as a significant directorial talent. Modern audiences who have had the opportunity to view surviving prints or restorations often remark on the film's surprisingly modern sensibility and psychological depth.

You Might Also Like