One of the major significances of Carl Theodor Dreyer's "Michael" is that it is one of the earliest movies that focus on homosexuality (although some earlier movies also did). Elderly painter Claude Zoret (Benjamin Christensen) becomes infatuated with his subject Michael (Walter Slezak), while amoral princess Lucia Zamikov* (Nora Gregor) enters both their lives.
Despite the look at the relationship between the artist and his subject, I actually found most of the movie to be kind of tedious. It sort of came across as a look at bored rich people. Maybe that's just my interpretation. The main focus is good, but the rest simply lost me. Still, the movie is worth seeing as an important part of film history, and in particular as part of LGBT-themed cinema.
*That's how it should be spelled.
PS: Benjamin Christensen had previously directed and starred in the witch-themed "Häxan", and Walter Slezak later played the Clock King on the 1960s "Batman".
Despite the look at the relationship between the artist and his subject, I actually found most of the movie to be kind of tedious. It sort of came across as a look at bored rich people. Maybe that's just my interpretation. The main focus is good, but the rest simply lost me. Still, the movie is worth seeing as an important part of film history, and in particular as part of LGBT-themed cinema.
*That's how it should be spelled.
PS: Benjamin Christensen had previously directed and starred in the witch-themed "Häxan", and Walter Slezak later played the Clock King on the 1960s "Batman".