The 10 Best Movies Influenced by Kierkegaardian Philosophy



Kierkegaard was born into a wealthy family in Copenhagen and was well educated. His father died at a young age, and Kierkegaard himself was convinced that he would die before he was to turn 33, thanks to a curse. His philosophy and writings are heavily influenced by the love of his life, Regine Olsen, to whom he was briefly engaged.

It is worth noting that he broke off the engagement, causing his own depression and melancholy. His writings gathered public scorn and, although he published almost entirely under pseudonyms, he was engaged in a bitter battle with a satiric newspaper near the end of his life.

He collapsed in the street at the age of 42 and, after spending a month in the hospital during which he refused communion, died in his hospital bed. Even his funeral was the source of conflict and hard feelings, as his nephew caused a disturbance in protest of the church’s handling of the matter.

What is to follow is a list of 10 great Kierkegaardian films. Unlike many of my other lists, I decided not to restrict these 10 films by director, and rather to choose 10 films that I thought dealt with Kierkegaard rather explicitly. His influence is much broader than this, of course, and does include Bergman and many other directors.


1. The Tree of Life (2011)



As we see in the first few moments of the film, the O’Brien’s have suffered in inconsolable loss: their son has died. The rest of the film is a response to this tragedy, alluding most directly to Kierkegaard’s Works of Love, as Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien try to make sense of God and his will.



2. Offret (1986)

The Sacrifice (1986)

This Tarkovsky masterpiece deals with evil, insanity, and a gigantic leap of faith. It features Nietzschean dialog, to be sure, but it also portrays an Abraham-and-Isaac style sacrifice. The film opens on Alexander (Erland Josephson), living a happy and seemingly complete life unaware of the impending nuclear holocaust. After hearing of the imminent death approaching over the TV, Alexander appeals to God offering to sacrifice everything he has to save his family.



3. Ordet (1955)



Anders Borgen (Cay Kristensen), the youngest, is pursuing the daughter of a fundamentalist leader, and has yet to determine exactly what he believes. The middle child, Johannes Borgen (Preben Lerdoff Rye), is the character that makes the film most interesting. He went insane “studying Kierkegaard”, we are told, and is convinced that he is Jesus Christ.



4. To the Wonder (2012)

To the Wonder

To the Wonder is the second in Malick’s autobiographical trilogy. It follows Neil (Ben Affleck) as he drifts between women, rejecting his faith and chasing pleasure. Most of all, it is diatribe against hedonism (and specifically against birth control), as Neil’s failed relationships are all built on the shifting sands of pleasure and lust. Of course, love isn’t quite that simple.




5. The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)

The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)


Crane’s character is stuck in the quagmires of despair and he realizes this as he sees that he hasn’t taken control of his life in the ways that matter. He has drifted to and fro, as is evidenced by the backstories of his job and marriage, and despite his outward appearances he is deeply troubled with this. His attitude changes though, as he begins to “pull away from the maze” so that he can “[see] it whole”, which gives him some peace.
