Dancer in the Dark-2000

Director Lars von Trier

Starring Björk

Scott’s Review #365

Reviewed January 9, 2016

Grade: A

Dancer in the Dark is, in my opinion, one of the most important, inventive films of the 2000s and is proudly one of my favorites of all time.

However, the film is not pleasant to watch and is quite painful and depressing, if the truth be told.

But the relevance and sheer emotion the film elicits are more than enough reason to be exposed to it, if only once, perhaps.

Director Lars von Trier is a master of creative and disturbing, dreamlike films that are odd, non-linear, or otherwise open to interpretation.

He has directed such gems as 2011’s Melancholia and 1996’s Breaking the Waves, to name but two.

In Dancer in the Dark, he uses handheld cameras, which add a lot of grit to the film, giving it an almost documentary-style, grainy, shaky look.

The addition of musical numbers mostly written and performed by the star, Björk, is a wonderful touch.

Speaking of Björk, words cannot express what a brilliant performance she gives in the film, and the raw emotion she expresses in her starring role is awe-inspiring.

So great was the stress of filming Dancer in the Dark that, to my knowledge, she has never made another film.

She was shamefully overlooked in the Best Actress Oscar category- an omission that is one of the biggest fails in Oscar history.

Tensions were reportedly high on the set of Dancer in the Dark, as Björk reportedly despised her director, never missing a chance to tell him so, disappeared from the set for days on end, and spat in his face.

Co-star Deneuve, a former French megastar, reportedly did not get along with Björk.

Despite all the drama, the stars managed to pull together a masterpiece.

Björk plays Selma, a Czech immigrant living in Seattle with her young son. The year is 1964. Selma is poor, struggling to survive by working in a clothing factory alongside her best friend, Cvalda (Deneuve).

Selma and Cvalda escape their dull lives by watching classic musical films at their local cinema. To make matters worse, Selma is suffering from a degenerative eye disease, causing her to lose her sight gradually.

She struggles to save enough for surgery for her son, who is sure to suffer the same fate without it.

Selma frequently imagines musical numbers in her day-to-day life involving friends and co-workers. When a tragic event occurs, and Selma is accused of a crime, the film takes a very dark turn.

The conclusion of the film will always require handkerchiefs as it is as powerful as it is gloomy.

The aspect I love most about Dancer in the Dark is that it smashes barriers about what film art is and throws all of the rules out the window.

Lars von Trier, famous for this, created a dreamy, independent hybrid musical-drama, a dynamic, tragic, emotional experience all rolled into one great film.

Oscar Nominations: Best Original Song-“I’ve Seen It All”

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 1 win-Best Foreign Film (won)