Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- austere
- bleak
- solemn
- classic cinema study
- arthouse viewing
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Satan appears in each of the four stories, including as the Grand Inquisitor, Erneste, and Ivan.
The four end-to-end sequences move from the temptation of Jesus through the Inquisition, French Revolution, and Russo-Finnish War.
Satan's doomed service and the episodes of betrayal, persecution, revolution, and war frame history as spiritual suffering.
The prestige-scale production recreates multiple historical periods through silent-era staging and imagery.
Films like Leaves from Satan's Book, and why
Intolerance
ambitious silent historical anthology structured around episodes from religious and political history
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Dreyer's austere silent historical drama with intense religious conviction and moral suffering
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
expressionistic silent-era historical spectacle combining spiritual themes with stylized production design
Movie Details
- Director
- Carl Theodor Dreyer
- Release Date
- 1920-11-15
- Runtime
- 157 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (46)
Cast
- Helge Nissen
- Halvard Hoff
- Jacob Texiere
- Hallander Helleman
- Ebon Strandin
- Johannes Meyer
- Nalle Halden
- Tenna Kraft
- Viggo Wiehe
- Emma Wiehe
Common questions
- What is Leaves from Satan's Book about?
- A monumental Danish silent anthology follows Satan through four eras of religious betrayal, political oppression, revolution, and war.
- What is Leaves from Satan's Book like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Leaves from Satan's Book as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Leaves from Satan's Book violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Leaves from Satan's Book as graphic.
- Which films are like Leaves from Satan's Book?
- Films with a similar feel include Intolerance, The Passion of Joan of Arc, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.
- How long is Leaves from Satan's Book?
- Leaves from Satan's Book runs 157 minutes.
