Haunted by guilt and the belief that she may have inherited supernatural powers, Anne's life unravels. After Absalon’s sudden death, Merete accuses her of using witchcraft to kill him. Abandoned by a guilt-stricken Martin, Anne eventually confesses to the "sin" of sorcery. Artistic Style
Filmed during the , the movie is often interpreted as an allegory for the social repression and paranoia of that era. Dreyer left for Sweden shortly after its premiere to escape potential persecution. It is based on the 1909 play Anne Pedersdotter by Hans Wiers-Jenssen, which itself draws from a 16th-century Norwegian witchcraft case. Plot Synopsis [cb01 ac] Dies Irae 1943
The story is set in (specifically 1623) within a strictly religious Lutheran community. Haunted by guilt and the belief that she