Master of the House is a 1925 Danish silent film directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer. The film follows Viktor Frandsen, a tyrannical husband and father who rules his household with an iron fist. His wife Ida is exhausted from the constant abuse she suffers at his hands, and the couple's two young children are terrified of their father.
In an effort to bring her family closer together and rid them of Viktor's harsh ways, Ida invites her mother-in-law, Mads, to move in with them. Mads, a strong-willed woman who raised Viktor, quickly sees through her son's behavior and begins to challenge him at every turn.
As Mads takes control of the household and begins to teach Viktor how to be a better husband and father, Ida and her children start to feel a sense of hope that their lives may improve. However, Viktor is resistant to change and begins to plot against his mother, leading to a dramatic confrontation that ultimately turns the family dynamic on its head.
Master of the House is a powerful drama that explores issues of domestic abuse and family dynamics with a deft hand. It is widely regarded as one of Dreyer's finest works and remains a classic of European cinema.