Judi Dench faces family skeletons that won't stay buried in Ibsen's scorching chamber drama.
Helene Alving leads an outwardly contented life. On the eve of the 10th anniversary of her husband's death, she is about to open an orphanage as a memorial to him. To mark this occasion, her bohemian painter son Oswald has returned from Paris. Helene plans to take the opportunity to tell Oswald the truth about his father. But ghosts of the past erupt during an eventful evening, bringing the facade of civilised family life crashing down.
Acting
Dench and Gambon's volcanic confrontation scenes.
Writing
Ibsen's ruthless dialogue, every word a landmine.
Direction
Moshinsky traps characters in oppressive interiors.
Director
Elijah Moshinsky
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Banned in Victorian England for mentioning syphilis—now considered Ibsen's most radical work.
Branagh filmed this between his Henry V breakthrough and directorial debut, proving his stage-to-screen range.
GB
