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Masterpiece or masquerade? Lars von Trier's digicam musical split the critics in two when it debuted at Cannes in 2000. There were those who saw it as a cynical shock-opera from a manipulative charlatan, others wept openly at its scenes of raw emotion and heart-rending intensity. There is, however, no in-between. Dancer in the Dark is that rarest of creatures, a film that dares to push viewers to the limits of their feelings.
In her first and most probably last screen performance (she has foresworn acting after her bruising on-set rows with von Trier), brittle Icelandic chanteuse Björk plays Selma, a Czech immigrant living in a folksy American small town with her young son, Gene. Selma is going blind and so will Gene if she does not arrange an important operation for him. To cover the expense, Selma works every hour she can, cheating on her eye tests so she can keep working at the local factory long after her vision has become too unreliable to work safely. She sublets a house from a local cop, Bill (David Morse), and his wife, Linda (Cara Seymour). When nearly bankrupt Bill asks Selma for a loan, she refuses, but he later returns and steals the money, which she demands back in a furious confrontation. In the ensuing melee, Bill is fatally shot and Selma is arrested and put on trial. Will justice prevail?
Von Trier's passionate, provocative film runs all our emotional resources dry with suspense, giving us occasional flashes into Selma's gold heart and mind with superb song-and-dance numbers she conjures to banish the nightmare (Björk also wrote the score). At some two-and-a-half hours, it's not for lightweights, but anyone bored with today's smug, "ironic" cinema will relish this as an astonishing assault on the senses and a stark reminder of von Trier's uncompromising talent. --Damon Wise
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
A beautiful, utterly devastating movie.
July 18 2004
Format:DVD
Björk, an accomplished singer from Iceland who is best known for her progressive music, unusual style, and quirky personality, absolutely should have won Academy Awards for the her outstanding score and sublime performance in this phenomenally beautiful, yet utterly sad motion picture. Why she didn't is beyond my capacity for reason, and is a testament to a commercialized Hollywood that rarely bats an eye at outstanding independent filmmaking.
Working beside a knockout cast (including Joel Grey, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, and Stellan Skarsgård), Björk plays Selma, a woman who copes with the increasing difficulties of her life through music. She suffers from a degenerative blindness, which causes her to lose her job - a significant loss, since she had been saving money to pay for an operation that would prevent the same blinding disease from befalling her son. All the while, the cruel world around her works against her undying selflessness, and, in the end, she unfairly pays the ultimate price.
Not since "West Side Story" has music been more of a compliment to a movie than it is in this musical. The music, arranged and composed by Björk (and performed with original, effective choreography), is almost a being in itself, popping in at a moments notice when Selma hears the slightest rhythm of a passing train, a metal press, or even the light scratching of a pencil on paper. It is through music that Selma finds her escape from an increasingly hostile world...and us along with her.
This movie, phenomenally written and directed by Lars von Trier, raises the soul and the spirit, then brings it crashing to the ground as we witness the martyrdom of one of the most stirring and decent characters in recent memory. Yet, despite the inevitable depression you may feel at the movie's end, you will feel fortunate to have even encountered a soul such as Selma in the first place.
Working beside a knockout cast (including Joel Grey, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, and Stellan Skarsgård), Björk plays Selma, a woman who copes with the increasing difficulties of her life through music. She suffers from a degenerative blindness, which causes her to lose her job - a significant loss, since she had been saving money to pay for an operation that would prevent the same blinding disease from befalling her son. All the while, the cruel world around her works against her undying selflessness, and, in the end, she unfairly pays the ultimate price.
Not since "West Side Story" has music been more of a compliment to a movie than it is in this musical. The music, arranged and composed by Björk (and performed with original, effective choreography), is almost a being in itself, popping in at a moments notice when Selma hears the slightest rhythm of a passing train, a metal press, or even the light scratching of a pencil on paper. It is through music that Selma finds her escape from an increasingly hostile world...and us along with her.
This movie, phenomenally written and directed by Lars von Trier, raises the soul and the spirit, then brings it crashing to the ground as we witness the martyrdom of one of the most stirring and decent characters in recent memory. Yet, despite the inevitable depression you may feel at the movie's end, you will feel fortunate to have even encountered a soul such as Selma in the first place.
Impressive motion picture
May 25 2011
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first became aware of this movie while watching another movie in a theatre; a trailer of Dancer In The Dark was played and I remember being impressed by it. I didn't remember more but it was enough that, when I saw the title advertised on Amazon, I bought the DVD.
This is a story almost shot as a documentary from the protagonist's point-of-view until it segues into the fantasy of a musical. At various points through the story we see Bjork singing her heart out while the character lapses into how her life could be choreographed. That said, the real story is anything but happy.
Director Lars von Trier, who's currently seeking to release the movie Melancholia, has formed a brilliantly original critique about the limits of our judicial system when trying to get at "the truth" of a person's guilt or innocent. Warning: this is a tear-jerker.Dancer in the Dark (Widescreen)
This is a story almost shot as a documentary from the protagonist's point-of-view until it segues into the fantasy of a musical. At various points through the story we see Bjork singing her heart out while the character lapses into how her life could be choreographed. That said, the real story is anything but happy.
Director Lars von Trier, who's currently seeking to release the movie Melancholia, has formed a brilliantly original critique about the limits of our judicial system when trying to get at "the truth" of a person's guilt or innocent. Warning: this is a tear-jerker.Dancer in the Dark (Widescreen)
Simply the best...
July 15 2004
Format:DVD
The first time I watched "Dancer in the Dark", I had already listened to a good portion of Bjork's music, primarily her "Post" album. However, I do not remember if I watched DITD because of her or if because my sister recommended it. Probably a combination of both. Either way, watching this movie was probably one of the most emotional events of my life. I have never ever seen a movie more intense or moving than DITD and I recommend this film to anyone who would like to really feel again for a character who truly is beautiful and fulfills the highest ideal of any human being.
Let me just say that while this movie is rated R, there is little if any profanity and no sexual content whatsoever. Rather, this film is probably rated for its extremely intense displays of violence. In the scene where Selma "kills" David Morse's character, there is a sense that Selma does not want to do what she is doing and you can sense this in her sobbings as she slams a large metal box over Morse's face.
The final scene at the gallows is without a doubt one of the most cringing and intense scenes in movie history, rivaled probably only by the end of Part 1 of the Green Mile.
DITD takes you places that you most likely would not voluntarily want to go in real life. Selma's sacrifice for her blind son is so beyond 'average American humanity'. Although Selma believes in communism (heaven forbid, so Anti-American!), her selfless actions prove that there are no real lines of separation in our world. The lines we believe are there are only imaginary.
I truly recommend DITD for Anybody; however, please be prepared; DITD could just change your 'vision' of things forever.
Let me just say that while this movie is rated R, there is little if any profanity and no sexual content whatsoever. Rather, this film is probably rated for its extremely intense displays of violence. In the scene where Selma "kills" David Morse's character, there is a sense that Selma does not want to do what she is doing and you can sense this in her sobbings as she slams a large metal box over Morse's face.
The final scene at the gallows is without a doubt one of the most cringing and intense scenes in movie history, rivaled probably only by the end of Part 1 of the Green Mile.
DITD takes you places that you most likely would not voluntarily want to go in real life. Selma's sacrifice for her blind son is so beyond 'average American humanity'. Although Selma believes in communism (heaven forbid, so Anti-American!), her selfless actions prove that there are no real lines of separation in our world. The lines we believe are there are only imaginary.
I truly recommend DITD for Anybody; however, please be prepared; DITD could just change your 'vision' of things forever.
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Most recent customer reviews
good seller...great movie
shipped on time in good condition. i loved this movie. depressing, but i watch it a couple of times a year
Published 12 months ago by Mr Roboto
the extras were cool, but boy was this a downer!
I have to admit that I found the extras to be much more interesting than the movie. Von Trier seems more humble in person than his pretensious movie would imply. Read more
Published on Oct 5 2005 by Rusty McMyrtle
If you want idiots buy Van Trier's other one
It is with a heavy heart that I must write this review of what should have been Lars van Trier's masterpiece. Read more
Published on Mar 25 2005 by "hiro51216"
Compare to "the Passion of Joan of Arc"
Lars Von Trier must have seen The Passion of Joan of Arc and liked it so much that he decided to make a movie (or a trilogy of movies) that parallelled the same female martyrdom. Read more
Published on Jun 8 2004 by Monica Aiken
a hard watch for most
I have no doubts about the beauty in this film.. it will be hard to watch if you haven't watched "disturbing" movies before. For me.. it was too. Read more
Published on May 31 2004 by John
baffling. beautiful. unsettling.
I could write a novella of a review, as so many have with respect to this film. There are many complex and interdependent themes, each magnificent in scope. Read more
Published on May 14 2004 by Cheryl S. Ingram
I've seen it all.. I have seen the dark... I've seen the..
.. light.. in one little spark..
If you want to see an interesting musical, see this. I can't imagine you being a Bjork fan and having not seen this yet. One, Bjork is Amazing. Read more
Published on April 17 2004 by ****Empyrean777
Could have been a masterpiece, But...
After watching the first 40 mins of this film you feel as though you are about to witness filmmaking history... Read more
Published on April 16 2004 by Kensimons
One of the best I've seen
This movie is one of the only films in the world that i would consider buying on DVD. The movie is dark and amazing, as much so as Bjork's music. Read more
Published on April 11 2004
Powerful, original, engrossing.
I've finally seen a movie by rebel danish director Lars von Trier, whose movies famously you either love or hate - and i don't know whether i love or hate it! Read more
Published on Mar 20 2004 by Ben Parker
Listmania!
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