Jørgen Leth's personal, pleasurable distillation of Danish literature covers seven poets alive at the time of production and twenty classical poets. A handful of actors share readings of the classical texts in semi close ups against a dark background; the living poets read their own works.
Jørgen von Hejden is very distinguished, but poor. He is something of a fortune hunter. He dreams of getting rich quick. But his skills are not up to the radio quiz show, so he sticks to gambling, roulette, and dice games. When he marries the beautiful and wealthy Marianne, he also gambles. He has...
In one of Copenhagen's suburbs stands a large house, a villa-like property. The house is owned by the widow Elise Thomsen, who lives on the ground floor with her adult son, Eigil. Mrs. Thomsen rents out most of the villa. On the first floor lives the author Stefan Donner with his wife Lili and...
