 |
| The French poster for Lars Von Trier's Dancer in the Dark |
In Washington state in 1964, a Czechoslovakian woman named Selma fights with increasing blindness and her ambition to save up for a vital operation for her son, but SPOILER through the greed of her neighbors, she is pushed to commit a murder and be executed for it.
Icelandic singer Björk (Drawing Restraint 9 (2005)) plays the decisive role of Selma beautifully, with a childlike demeanor that is at times charming and at times disturbing. And Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour (1967)) and Peter Stormare (Fargo (1996)) are also outstanding here in Danish master filmmaker Lars Von Trier's (Breaking the Waves (1996)) political musical drama, which uses the musical format in a bold direction that earned Von Trier the Palme d'Or in Cannes and ended his Golden Heart trilogy, (which also comprises Breaking the Waves and The Idiots/Idioterne (1998). Political in that Von Trier here implicitly makes a very critical statement of the US.
The train scene with the song is fantastically beautiful and fairytale-like, and in general the film's breakout singing and dancing scenes are its best: Colors go from muted, depressive greys and get life and fullness, as sounds become musical, and blind Selma the musical star. Exhilarating and singular, the film's impressive cast also has Joel Grey (Cabaret (1972)). It is an exciting and creative meeting.
Later, in the courtroom scene, Von Trier's distaste for America shines though, as all of America, it seems, collectively abuse the blind woman, who refuses to defend herself. But you don't have to agree with Von Trier's anti-American sentiments to enjoy Dancer in the Dark.
Related reviews:
Lars Von Trier: Nymphomaniac (2013) short version, vol. 1 & vol. 2, or, Lars Von Trier's Suck It
Antichrist (2009) - Trier's cabin-in-the-woods psycho-horror
Dear Wendy (2005) - Vinterberg and Von Trier's unpopular, gun-themed megaflop (writer)
Watch the exciting trailer for the film here
Cost: 12.5 mil. $
Box office: 45.6 mil. $
= Big hit
[Dancer also won Björk the Best Actress award in Cannes, and the song I've Seen It All was Oscar-nominated. The film seems to be Von Trier's biggest commercial hit to date. It was a co-production between companies from no less than 12 countries! The film made 4.1 mil. $ (9 % of the total gross) in the US, and was a relatively big hit in a number of other countries like Denmark, France and Spain.]
What do you think of Dancer in the Dark?
Do you know other unusual, dark musicals?
No comments:
Post a Comment