Dancer In The Dark
BBBB
(out of 5)
Lars Von Trier repeats his exact formula from his 1996 art house hit Breaking The Waves with one notable exception: this time the leading lady sings up a storm. Björk is phenomenal in her film debut as a young woman who is slowly going blind, working in a factory to save up money for her son who has a similar condition and needs an operation. Along the way, her dreams of becoming a musical star are realized through fantasy sequences with music by the leading lady herself. Things get ridiculously melodramatic really fast, often to the disadvantage of the film’s power, but no matter; Bjork’s music for the film is so indelible as to make it worth the rave. Vincent Paterson also lends much to the production with his energetic choreography (he also has a small part in the film).
Denmark/Germany/The Netherlands/Italy/USA/United Kingdom/France/Sweden/Finland/Iceland/Norway, 2000
Directed by Lars Von Trier
Screenplay by Lars Von Trier
Cinematography by Robby Muller
Produced by Vibeke Windelov
Music by Björk
Production Design by Karl Júlíusson
Costume Design by Manon Rasmussen
Film Editing by Francois Gedigier, Molly Marlene Stensgaard
Film Festivals: Cannes 2000
Cast Tags: Al Agami, Alex Mouro, Alexander Arli, Allan Gyldenkærne, Ami Eklöf-Annell, Ana Christine Broström, Anders Tärneberg, Anders Thorhauge, Anders-Peter Torsleff Hansen,Andrew Lucre, Ann Crosset, Anna David, Anna Norberg, Anna Rosenberg, Annette Lindholm,Anthony Ajoise Olufemi Jacob, Birgitte Skands, Björk, Bjorn Ahlander, Bo Westerholm, Bobo Eriksson, Britt Bendixen, Cara Seymour, Carl Johan De Neergaard, Carol Linda Nielsen,Catherine Deneuve, Claus Berenhard, Cristian Valle, David Morse, Diana G.L. Watson, Ed Hickok, Edvin Karsson, Eli Stalhand, Elin Johansson, Emilie Bendz, Eric Voge, Erik Dammann,Erik Drugge, Frederik Mondrup, Fredrik Börgesson, Jean-Marc Barr, Jens Albinus, Joel Grey,John Martinus, John Randolph Jones, Katrine Falkenberg, Lars Michael Dinesen, Luke Reilly, Mette Berggreen, Michael Flessas, Nick Wolf, Noah Lazarus, Paprika Steen, Peter Stormare, Reathel Bean, Sean-Michael Smith, Sheldon Litt, Siobhan Fallon,Stellan Skarsgård, T.J. Rizzo, Timm Zimmermann, Udo Kier, Vincent Paterson, Vladica Kostic,Zeljko Ivanek
Academy Award Nomination
Best Music (Original Song) (“I’ve Seen It All”, music by Bjork; lyric by Lars Von Trier, Sjon Sigurdsson)
Golden Globe Award Nominations
Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama (Bjork)
Best Original Song-Motion Picture (“I’ve Seen It All”, music by Bjork, lyrics by Sjon Sigurdsson, Lars Von Trier)
New York Film Critics Award Nomination
Best Actress (Bjork)
Los Angeles Film Critics Award Nomination
Best Music (Bjork)
National Board Of Review Awards
Top Ten Films
Special Citation, Outstanding dramatic music performance (Bjork)
Cannes Film Festival Awards
Palme D’Or
Best Actress (Bjork)
Independent Spirit Award
Best Foreign Film
European Film Awards
Best European Film
Best European Actress (Bjork)
Audience Award-Best European Actress (Bjork)
Audience Award-Best European Actor (Lars Von Trier)
Cesar Award Nomination
Best Foreign Film
