Episode 273: Häxan (1922)

We return to you after an unplanned break due to illness with a delayed episode on "Häxan," Benjamin Christiansen's groundbreaking 1922 docu-drama about the history of the persecution of witches (or "witches") — which also conveniently allowed him to depict sexually transgressive behavior that meant the film couldn't be shown in the United States for decades. Topics discussed include the film's push and pull between analysis and fetishism, its legacy as a cult object, Christiansen's experimental style, and more. We recorded this before Christmas so you'll hear a Christmas-y intro — so it goes! We'll be back soon with our episode on the Best Films of 2022. Thanks for listening.