Based on the true story of Scandinavia's first witch hunts.
DEVIL'S BRIDE
I hope our small island won't be -
too uncomfortable after Stockholm.
We have a lot to do.
I prepared these -
to brief you, Circuit Judge -
on our ways of doing things. - Keep them.
I did not come here to copy the past-
but to bring about changes.
Changes, Your Honour?
I fear our little Åland has turned into -
a seething nest of witchcraft.
Rakel!
My water has broken.
Tear open the breach
Let the jawbones stretch
Open up the doors to the granary of flesh
Old seer. Tell me who stole my rye sheaves.
What is it?
Someone stole Ebba's rye sheaves.
Lisbet?
Johan? Anders?
Ingborg? Kirstin?
Rebecca? Mats?
It is a pity-
that I studied in Uppsala -
not in Tartu.
We might have met earlier.
MALLEUS MALEFICARUM
Your Honour. - Has she no shame?
I am a poor wife, I need my stolen sheaves.
Ulrica, you may go.
I'll look into it at the winter assizes.
Winter?
I can't keep us alive with my granary of flesh.
My family'll starve to death! - Any witnesses to the crime?
No. So I asked the beggar woman Karin to divine the thief.
To divine the thief? -Yes.
But she saw no one.
I even asked the Bailiff along to be a witness.
I will talk to him.
He's a good man -
not a village pussy ward.
Seriously looking for a bride of his own.
Your Honour.
What is this divining?
Just an old tradition, a harmless custom.
Someone divines a thief or a murderer.
She can be right, or she can be wrong.
Without judicial evidence -
anyone can be deemed guilty.
That's why we need laws and proper trials.
No more heathen practices and random accusations.
This island will now enter modern times.
What's the new judge like?
Haven't seen him.
Perhaps I'll ask him if I can be his maid, too.
We could share the maid's bed.
Guess what.
In my dream, I saw a man -
glistening in the sun. - A beautiful dream.
He came towards me. Then right up to me.
And his stem... - You mustn't...
...pressed against me. - You mustn't...
Don't you ever feel the urge?
The Reverend preaches that innocent lambs will drown...
If they won't live piously and in the fear of the Lord.
But Lovisa, it was no ordinary dream.
It was a sign, a premonition.
Sheep cannot swim.
Anna, they will all drown!
Valborg, please.
This one time only.
I will meet a man.
He's gorgeous. like a mountain.
Like a rock he rises in front of me when 1 least expect it.
What do I need to do? - It's not that clear.
It is one thing to know -
quite another to let people use the knowledge.
Teach me. Tell me what I need.
Find a lovage root. - Lovage.
Put the dried root in his pocket.
Tie a knot with your hair, and light as a feather -
touch his bare, sweaty skin with it.
Keep the knot with you always, against your breast.
Tell me more! - I am tired.
Rakel gave birth today.
But I was with her this very morning.
A pretty little girl.
You could've learned a lot today. - I know. I'm sorry.
So sweet.
Cute!
Valborg and I foretold the future with tallow.
A golden, godlike man waits for me.
The image was so clear, so strong.
I can't hear to wait.
You'll get the best one on this island.
You have a stain on your blouse.
A pretty face won't help you here.
Perhaps the Psilander family needs help in the kitchen?
Who wouldn't want to be the Judge's maid?
But I'd never have thought -
that the daughter of Valborg, our all-knowing healer-
would leave her foster mother.
I've chosen my maids.
Who is this sweet girl...
Do you feel ill, Madam?
Lovisa! Pepper!
Feel any better, Madam?
And who is this -
sweet girl?
I am Anna Eriksdaughter.
I came to ask if you need any help in the kitchen.
I told her we don't need any.
But Anna knew that pepper can be used as medicine.
I know the herbal lore. - Anna must go now.
I take her as my chamber maid.
Anna, don't!
Just a taste.
The boats are coming!
The men return!
Come! Let's go!
Let's go!
Begging your pardon.
Madam Elizabeth's maid. - Anna Eriksdaughter, Your Honour.
It is he.
The man of my dreams I saw -
in the candle's shadow. - Anna, no.
He rises like a mountain when 1 least expect it.
Neither earth nor water can hold him back.
He's Elias, you fool.
Lovisa!
Here is the neighbor of your cousin Sven:
Mårten Sjöberg from Saltvik.
His wife passed away last winter.
But now Mårten's here to visit us.
My, how you have grown!
Have you lost your mind?
Anna, for heaven's sake.
It is written in the stars. Valborg saw it, too.
Elias is Rakel's husband!
Have I told you smell like -
a young birch in spring?
Will you also say so when the winter comes?
Will you be my bride?
Oh, Karl!
Nothing could make me happier.
I must go home.
I'll see you home.
No, not before I've told Father.
Dear child, we must talk.
Perhaps you should confess.
What are you doing?
No! Stop!
Don't you want to receive the love of our Lord?
Let us go.
Gertrud, pull yourself together.
Leaving already?
Valborg's little Anna.
Not so little any more.
I'm sixteen already.
I guess you fail to notice time pass at sea.
I was going to thank you.
I hear you saved our sheep from drowning.
I ran into the water... - Into the water?
A true mermaid.
I think I ran on the waves.
It happened so fast I didn't have time to drown.
Let's go for a swim.
I'm so afraid I will... - Get pregnant.
Who was it?
You'd never believe me.
No one would.
Did he talk about God's grace?
How can you know? - You're not the first one.
I've helped other fearful girls.
Good evening.
The light of the body is the eye:
if thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if your vision is poor-
your whole body will be full of darkness.
Parishioners.
No one can serve two masters -
without a deceitful darkness creeping into our souls.
In this village -
the forces of darkness... - Mother?
...threaten to murder the light.
Mother!
Someone has put the evil eye on the old lady.
But they just got here!
Spat out a spark
Through Earth, through the ground
Through the Virgin's maidenhead
In the name of the Father-
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
How can it be so difficult to find a doctor?
He is mostly in Stockholm. with luck, on a nearby island.
It'll take days to get a doctor here.
How is my mother? - That woman...
She spits, spins bread, does strange tricks.
Last time, Madam's maid did the same.
She is asleep.
Where have you received your schooling?
I am the village midwife and healer.
My lore is handed down from one generation to another.
Who asked you here?
How is Madam?
I shouldn't have let that woman in -
but they just barged in. - Who?
Valborg. -Valborg's powers don't bode well for our village.
Fragile green sprigs of spring.
What would God think-
if those powers of nature were destroyed?
We mustn't harm God's creation.
What right do you have then -
to destroy the innocent ones God has created?
I will find witnesses if you don't change your ways.
Valborg is lying.
These are not lies! - It's not the first time!
I'm sure we can agree that -
our little Gertrud was the last one.
I thought she would die.
For Madam.
To wish her health.
Please. Take it. - Thank you.
Anna.
For Madam Elizabeth.
He dropped something.
You dropped this.
My knife.
How careless of me.
Thank you, beautiful saviour.
You're finally awake.
When the Batholomew Fair is over-
come to the cave.
I'll wait for you there.
...mouth of a wicked lad
Turning right cheap like the broom of a fast lass
Dear girl, dear girl, dear girl, listen here
Don't you forbid me from hugging you again
one pond '5 deeper and the other...
Do you feel ill?
I am fine.
For your good health.
Your mother's good health, Nils.
I hear Valborg visited your mother.
What sort of a healer is she? - Just an ordinary midwife.
She uses herbs for women's troubles.
There are no ordinary healers.
People believe in harmless little tricks.
Have done so for centuries.
Butchering innocent souls in their mother's womb.
Is that harmless? - They're playing God.
There are no harmless tricks.
Witchcraft is always witchcraft.
Did you find out what that woman, Karin, does?
She is just -
a poor old beggar woman.
Who uses devil's tricks to divine thieves.
Understandably so.
These villagers live on this godforsaken island.
Some of them starve to death.
The law forbids such witchery.
Are these women ignorant of it -
or don't they just not care?
Beggars divine thieves.
Healthy people fall suddenly seriously ill.
What do you imply?
That Valborg has used -
evil forces? -of course not.
But now that you say it...
Let's take Karin, for instance.
People claim, for good reason -
that she uses the evil eye.
And Valborg, the angel maker-
defies our God!
I must convene the assizes because of these women.
Thank you for an excellent meal.
I found a plant in the garden...
I wanted to compare it to the book's...
“Lovage, Levisticurn officinale, is a perennial plant -
flowering from July to August with pale yellow blooms.
The stem is smooth, hollow, leafless and bluish -
with two or three...“ - I see Anna can read.
My stepmother taught me.
Anna seems to be eager to learn things.
You haven't told anyone, have you?
Who hit you?
Karl?
Karl's not like that.
Now that we're engaged -
he came to my bedchamber.
He noticed it wasn't my first time.
That someone had already...
Karl left me.
My father wanted to know why.
He hit me, called me a whore and abandoned me.
My father said I've ruined his life.
You can always stay here with me.
Where did you get this?
Silk is dreadfully expensive.
In Stockholm.
Let's go to Stockholm together. - You're sweet.
Only the best for my bride.
You're shirtless!
If I tell you something -
promise that you never, ever -
reveal it to a living soul?
I promise...
Elias is Rakel's husband!
Anna, it's a mortal sin!
What was it like?
Be careful!
Silly girl.
Get away, we must... - We must dance!
Once did a pretty girl kiss the mouth of a wicked lad
Turning right cheap like the broom of a fast lass
I'm not a great seer, nor a great witch
when I see a pretty buy his heart I will win!
I came to take Valborg to be interrogated.
She made a fire of nine different types of wood -
and shoe soles, tinder, liquor and garlic.
She read a rhyme for each cow.
You will follow me like the devil follows his false master...
You remember the rhyme well, thank you.
What do you know of the visit the accused made -
to Madam Elizabeth Psilander after she suffered a fit?
She did trick with a loaf, and spells. -What kind?
In the name of the Father, of the Son and...
That is from the Bible.
And Ulrica Johansdaughter ought to know it.
And the accused?
I just lit a bonfire for the cows.
An old practice many villagers use. It harms no one.
Madam Elizabeth Psilander was seriously ill.
I did my best to keep her alive.
Your Honour.
There isn't a single family in the village -
whose child Valborg hasn't helped into this world.
This trial is about witchcraft, not midwifery.
Valborg has used white magic.
I want to remind Your Honour-
that only black magic is called witchcraft.
In King Christopher's Law... - The Bailiff should know -
that the law is no more recognized in our realm.
All magic is dangerous, therefore punishable.
Jurors, please rise to hear the verdict.
Widow Valborg Magnusdaughter has been proven guilty -
of practising witchcraft to damage people and cattle -
for the benefit of herself and the devil.
Therefore, she will banished from here for the rest of her life.
Leave Rakel's husband alone.
I love him.
You follow your lust.
It's not the same as love.
I hope nothing happened on the laundry day -
that cannot be salvaged.
Valborg.
Where is she? My Valborg.
You made a terrible mistake.
Overturn the sentence. You can do it.
I observed the law.
And the trial was properly held, you must understand it.
You scoundrel!
You know how long it takes to clean those boots?
This'll make them shine.
Well, always time for one game.
Shall we?
How do you use your skills?
Ebba asked me to divine the thief and...
Speak Swedish!
Cripes! Never have I spoken before -
in front of such big, fine lords!
What should I invent?
Sometimes I see small black kittens.
Once I saw a big black dog, tall as an urchin.
But the trip I did only once.
What trip?
The first time -
I was there all alone, and the black man...
He was big in every way!
Where was this?
Oh! It felt good!
But the second time there was food.
Got to eat my fill! Meat and fish!
Then he carried me home on his strong arms!
Where did you find all that food?
On the Blockula Mountain, of course.
The same old story.
Because she's been there, on the Mountain!
Believe it if you will.
Don't believe me? I'll show you.
The black man hit me, tore at me, mauled me...
Enough!
The jurors will decide on the case.
Can I go now?
Whore!
Imbalance of bodily fluids.
It has caused melancholy.
Blood-letting prevents her from sinking in deeper.
And ipecac helps vomiting.
A person often angry and melancholic -
must take this regularly.
We will follow your instructions.
This really is not for Madam.
Everything will turn out right.
And you know what?
Karin told her old story about the Mountain at the trial.
No...
Did you say no?
Yes...
You speak!
I must talk to you.
We have two small children now, they need their father.
I ask you as a woman. End your affair with Elias.
I'm not thinking of myself only.
I am sorry.
But the bond between Elias and me -
is so strong. Stronger than life.
This is not the first time.
That's not true.
He's easily attracted to young, beautiful girls.
I am your friend.
You hate Elias.
You try to turn me against him and lie about him.
I must serve Madam Elizabeth's tea.
If Valborg were here, I'd talk to her.
How dare you to mention my Valborg!
You're just a selfish little girl. - But not a bitter old hag.
I used to like you.
But look at yourself now!
My darling.
Anna darling. Give it to me.
Don't come any closer.
You'll never touch me again.
Give it to me.
Damn you!
You're bleeding!
It's just a scratch.
Promise you'll never leave me!
To tell the truth.
Karin knows what it means.
Who did you meet at the Mountain?
No one.
Let me remind you of hell. Liars will burn in eternal flames.
In never-ending pain.
Telling the truth -
and the names of all the other witches -
will cleanse your soul.
You cannot receive Holy Communion -
unless you confess all your sins.
We'll travel to Stockholm -
Elias and me.
Forget Elias.
I ought to congratulate you on your engagement.
Did you try to protest to your parents?
So you gave in blindly.
Why wouldn't I?
Mårten is a good man.
A decent merchant.
He's kind-
doesn't drink too much or hit children without a reason.
I wonder how Rakel keeps him to herself.
She binds Elias to herself so -
that he cannot even breathe.
Anna.
No one else knows about you and Elias yet -
but you maybe discovered at any time.
Imagine what will happen then!
Should I sell myself to some old widower, too?
Anna.
I thought we were best friends.
Have you witnessed something with your own eyes?
Rakel Larsdaughter has used herbs to cast spells.
And she has managed to dye woollen yard red.
How do you think that happened? - Through black magic.
Karin Persdaughter -
a beggar woman without an abode or work in this district -
has been proven to have made a pact with the devil-
to gain profit by black magic and to help the forces of darkness -
she has followed in her sinfulness. - Good riddance to her.
Therefore she will be, according to our laws -
sentenced to death by beheading and burnt at the stake.
A death sentence!
“The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping -
upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.'
Rakel! Come and see how a head drops!
I think it's horrible and disgusting.
They say he's uglier than the devil.
The executioner, all the way from Turku!
Strong evidence shows -
that these evil deeds do not spring from a mystic -
but from a natural source: witchcraft.
Let us also be aware that -
even in our midst there may be souls -
who have made a pact with the devil.
In the name of the Father-
of the Son -
and of the Holy Ghost.
Communion! I want the Communion!
I want to cleanse my soul, I don't want to go to hell!
I've seen you!
I've seen you hags on the Blockula Mountain!
And the good Reverend knows everyone's name!
As Karin has now made an official confession -
she is ready to receive the Lord's blessing.
The body of Christ.
The blood of Christ.
No!
No, no!
I don't want to die!
I'm an old wife and -
I don't think my fleshy cunt will save me now.
Anders!
Grandma Ebba is alleged to have used rnagia divinaria -
to solve crimes, therefore being guilty of a pact with the devil.
According to the testimony of Persdaughter -
widow Lisbeta Skarp has turned herself into an animal -
with black fur to take part in the devil's feast.
Mother!
Let me go!
Let go, you scoundrels! Don't touch me!
Can all those guilty of witchcraft be sentenced to death?
Rakel Larsdaughter is arrested for practising witchcraft.
Rakel, come with us.
What about my children?
They're better off with the neighbours -
than in a stinking dungeon.
Mother!
Johan, will you hold your little sister-
while I warm up some sugar water for her?
Darling!
Forgive me. I didn't know what I was doing.
I didn't mean that Rakel... - What are you saying?
It was wrong to give Rakel's name to the Judge.
I thought they'd just banish her like Valborg.
God damned bitch.
Elias.
I should've never trusted you.
I don't want to hear.
How did you get the Judge to believe your lies?
I know how.
We have been forced to witness individual tragedies.
But only a hardened soul-
does not confess its sins.
In the name of God, these souls will burn eternally in hell.
I may not be -
as certain of what I said about Rakel when...
when you denounced her. - Yes.
I see.
Usually you are quite certain about everything.
It was a mistake. I thought...
You can rest easy.
You can confidently leave the matter to us jurists.
We have the methods and the tools -
to drag out the truth.
Ebba!
Lisbeta!
Gertrud!
Gertrud?
Reverend!
Everyone knows it!
Help me, please!
Tell them I'm innocent.
Karl!
My Karl.
You said once -
that I made all your dreams come true.
Karl.
You slut.
I picked you -
from all the innocent virgins.
Witches' ointment.
It's just ordinary shoe...
Did you fly to the Mountain?
On a goat, or a cow?
Lisbeta's family-
may soon lose their home.
Your Excellency...
I am sure you understand-
that we need firewood. - Firewood?
We need your cottage -
for firewood when we burn witches at the stake.
Stigma diaboli.
Look for scars, deformities and dark patches on skin.
No pain.
Have you not done the needle test before, Bailiff?
If the suspect doesn't feel anything, she's been marked by the devil.
Case closed.
I fell from a tree as a child.
Ebba Matsenkia.
Lisbeta Skarp.
Gertrud Bengtsdaughter.
Maria Nilsdaughter.
And Ingeborg Olofsdaughter.
According to the law, all will be sentenced to death by beheading -
then burnt at the stake.
Anders...
Mother's little darlings.
It was no witches' ointment. I wanted my shoes to shine!
Karl, help me!
Karl!
Rakel Larsdaughter.
Rakel Larsdaughter has not yet completed her confession.
Interrogations will continue.
In the name of the Father-
of the Son -
and of the Holy Ghost.
Help me!
Will you... - I won't tell anyone.
Forgive me.
I said some bad things. I was desperate.
You're my best and dearest friend.
And you mine.
Hi.
I brought you fresh bread.
I need to see Rakel Larsdotter.
Visits are forbidden.
Judge Psilander's order.
A nursling needs her mother.
You know?
Just this once.
Greetings from Johan.
Everything's fine at home.
Rakel, I am sorry. I was mad.
My little child.
My little unbaptized daughter whose soul will be damned.
You couldn't even wait for me to be churched.
I'll end up in hell.
What will be her name?
Iliana.
My little Iliana.
She will be baptized.
I promise you. - Slut!
Go away.
Go.
Want your boots cleaned, Mr District Judge?
And then some shoe polish.
Does anyone use -
these jars for any other purpose?
No.
You did that well, Madam.
Where's the ointment you showed to the jurors?
I burnt it after the interrogations.
You burnt it? - Witches' ointment.
I certainly didn't want to keep it.
Where did you find that? From Rakel?
It is shoe polish, just like Gertrud said in the court.
That slut is capable of saying anything.
This time she told the truth.
Then the wisest thing -
is to leave this between us two.
This is a terrible mistake.
Canon Episcopi?
Is this about witchcraft?
That everything is just dreams?
Does your son know about this? - Yes.
We have argued about it many times.
I have made a big mistake.
It is impossible to rectify.
I must ask for your permission to leave this island.
A big mistake.
What're you up to'!
I'm doing a good deed to an innocent soul.
Rakel's little girl has not been baptized.
It must be done.
In the name of the Father...
The Father, and the Son and...
The Father...
Forgive me.
I christen you -
Iliana. -Anna.
Anna Iliana.
I christen you Anna Iliana.
In the name of the Father, of the Son -
and of the Holy Ghost.
Imagine if they're all just daydreams.
What do you say?
“Who is so stupid and foolish as to think-
that all these things done in the spirit are done in the body?
Whoever believes in such things loses the Faith and is not of God -
but of him in whom he believes, that is the devil.“ Canon Episcopi.
Written by an ignorant and aberrant monk hundreds of years ago!
Rakel Larsdaughter has confessed -
and has been proven to be guilty of the use of black magic -
for her own and the devil's benefit.
Therefore she will, according to the Mosaic Law...
I want to confess.
I denounced Rakel Larsdaughter on false grounds.
Do you confess this in all honesty?
Yes. I do.
Then the court must find out-
if the devil has led this person to do so.
Anna Eriksdaughter will be arrested -
for interrogation and investigation.
I will handle this myself.
Certainly.
Anna, you can still change your confession -
concerning Rakel Larsdaughter.
Get up.
This is an official interrogation. Get up!
You will now tell me -
all your secrets.
What's it like to fly on those beasts?
Do you turn into an animal, too?
What does it feel like to meet the devil?
When he lays with you? You feel lust? Tell me!
Tell me!
I don't know you any more.
I am the District Judge, a man of the law.
In front of God, our king has assigned me the duty -
to uncover all devil's deeds until my dying day.
Future generations will read about it in the chronicles.
Chronicles never lie.
FLORA OF SWEDEN
Several witnesses have told -
that the accused has used the lore received from her foster mother-
the witch Valborg, banished from this island.
Anna has used black magic in unnatural way -
to heal sicknesses and bring good luck with cattle.
The accused has also been close to the beggar woman Karin -
already proven to be a witch.
Finally, she has boasted of being able to walk on water.
What does the accused Anna Eriksdaughter have to say?
Your Honour.
The devil wouldn't be the devil if he were easy to recognize.
The devil blinds you with his glamour, touches you -
fills you with magnificent strength.
Makes you howl like a bitch, until you're ready to fly.
That is what the devil can do.
Isn't it so, Honoured Judge?
I am guilty of all the things mentioned here.
And of an even worse sin.
I have borne false witness against an innocent woman.
Rakel is innocent. - She has confessed her sins.
Then it is the devil's handiwork.
I know it, for I did all the evil deeds -
in the name of Rakel Larsdaughter.
Jurors have decided that Anna Eriksdaughter -
is guilty of practising witchcraft in Rakel Larsdaughter's name -
thus endangering the whole village.
She is sentenced to death according to God's Law:
Exodus 22:18. Rakel Larsdaughter will be set free.
Murderer!
I will fetch her myself.
The body of Christ.
The blood of Christ.
My beloved -
esteemed parishioners.
A great day for Christianity!
Anna!
Anna Iliana!
Mother, tell me again what happened to Big Anna.
It was our Reverend! He raped Gertrud -
and destroyed her life! - You murder innocent women!
And of many others, including mine!
Water has turned into wine.
A miracle!
You dyed the water red -
fooled the Reverend and saved Anna!
Set her free!
She moved to Stockholm, become rich and famous.
Everyone admired her as the best healer ever, right?
To Anna Iliana.
“Lovage.
A perennial, flowers in July-August -
with pale yellow...'
"...shiny with two or three umbels.
The stem is long.'
Come.
DEDICATED TO THE EXECUTED
Nils Psilander acted as the Åland Circuit Judge -
until his death in 1682.
There were no more executions for witchcraft during his term in office.
In continental Sweden, witch hunts blazed up in Dalsland in 1668 -
spreading from there to Stockholm. By 1676, approximately 400 people -
were sentenced to death for witchcraft.
Translation: Mikko Lyytikiinen