The Carnival of Life

The celebrated comedy playwright Halfdan Berg has always been adored by the press, so he is shocked when his latest play is declared a resounding failure in the morning papers. To steady his nerves, he attends a party that evening, and here he meets Leonid Ivanoff, a tormented Russian artist who tells him about a demonic woman who haunts and hypnotises him. Before leaving the party, Ivanoff gives his keys to Berg, fearing he might ‘strike her down’ if he returns home and finds her there. Later that night, Berg ends up in Ivanoff’s small attic studio and indeed finds the eerily staring woman there. Wrapped up in a haze of alcohol and fear, Berg loses control and hurls an axe at her face. (Stumfilm.dk)

Directed by —, The Carnival of Life leans on a strong ensemble — Frederik Jensen, Dagmar Nielsen, Peter Nielsen — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1923.