Breaking the Waves

Breaking the Waves
Name	Breaking the Waves
Director	Lars von Trier
Producer	Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Lars von Trier
Writer	Lars von Trier, Peter Asmussen
Starring	Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr
Music	Joachim Holbek
Cinematography	Robbie Müller
Editing	Anders Refn
Studio	Zentropa, Nordisk Film, Argus Film Produktie
Distributed	Nordisk Film
Released	1996
Runtime	159 minutes
Country	Denmark, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Norway, Iceland
Language	English

Breaking the Waves is a 1996 romance film written and directed by Lars von Trier, starring Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgård. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and received critical acclaim, with Emily Watson winning the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress and Lars von Trier winning the Grand Prix des Amours. The film was also nominated for the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Actress for Emily Watson's performance. The film's success can be attributed to the collaboration between Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen, who also worked together on The Kingdom and Dancer in the Dark.

Plot

The film tells the story of Bess McNeill, a young woman living in a small Scottish community, who falls in love with Jan Nyman, a Norwegian oil rig worker. The two get married, but their happiness is short-lived as Jan Nyman is paralyzed in an accident on the oil rig. Bess McNeill's love for Jan Nyman leads her to make a series of sacrifices, including having affairs with other men, in an attempt to save his life. The film explores themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption, and features a strong performance from Emily Watson, who was also praised for her work in Metroland and Punch-Drunk Love. The film's plot is also reminiscent of the works of Ingmar Bergman, such as The Seventh Seal and Persona, which also explore themes of love and sacrifice. The film's use of non-linear narrative and unreliable narrator also adds to its complexity, similar to the works of Stanley Kubrick, such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange.

Production

The film was produced by Zentropa, a Danish film production company founded by Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen. The film was shot on location in Scotland and Iceland, and features a mix of professional actors and non-professional actors. The film's cinematography was handled by Robbie Müller, who also worked on Paris, Texas and Down by Law. The film's score was composed by Joachim Holbek, who also worked on The Kingdom and Dancer in the Dark. The film's production team also included Anders Refn, who edited the film, and Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, who worked as a line producer. The film's production was also influenced by the works of Andrei Tarkovsky, such as Andrei Rublev and Stalker, which also explore themes of love and sacrifice.

Release

The film was released in 1996 and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for several awards, including the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Actress for Emily Watson's performance. The film was also released in Denmark, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Norway, and Iceland, and was distributed by Nordisk Film. The film's release was also accompanied by a soundtrack album, which featured music by Joachim Holbek and Elvis Presley. The film's success can be attributed to the collaboration between Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen, who also worked together on The Kingdom and Dancer in the Dark. The film's release was also influenced by the works of Martin Scorsese, such as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, which also explore themes of love and sacrifice.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising Emily Watson's performance and Lars von Trier's direction. The film holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 85%, with many critics praising the film's unique storytelling and strong performances. The film was also praised by critics such as Roger Ebert and Owen Gleiberman, who praised the film's emotional depth and complexity. The film's success can be attributed to the collaboration between Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen, who also worked together on The Kingdom and Dancer in the Dark. The film's reception was also influenced by the works of Francis Ford Coppola, such as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, which also explore themes of love and sacrifice. The film's use of long take and handheld camera also adds to its realism, similar to the works of Jean-Luc Godard, such as Breathless and Contempt.

Themes

The film explores several themes, including love, sacrifice, and redemption. The film's portrayal of Bess McNeill's love for Jan Nyman is a central theme, and is explored through her actions and decisions throughout the film. The film also explores the theme of sacrifice, as Bess McNeill makes a series of sacrifices in an attempt to save Jan Nyman's life. The film's use of symbolism and metaphor also adds to its complexity, similar to the works of Terry Gilliam, such as Brazil and 12 Monkeys. The film's exploration of themes is also reminiscent of the works of Akira Kurosawa, such as Rashomon and Seven Samurai, which also explore themes of love and sacrifice. The film's use of non-linear narrative and unreliable narrator also adds to its complexity, similar to the works of David Lynch, such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet.

Accolades

The film received several awards and nominations, including the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for Emily Watson's performance and the Grand Prix des Amours for Lars von Trier's direction. The film was also nominated for the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award for Best Actress for Emily Watson's performance. The film's success can be attributed to the collaboration between Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen, who also worked together on The Kingdom and Dancer in the Dark. The film's accolades were also influenced by the works of Roman Polanski, such as Chinatown and The Pianist, which also explore themes of love and sacrifice. The film's use of long take and handheld camera also adds to its realism, similar to the works of Alejandro Jodorowsky, such as El Topo and The Holy Mountain. The film's exploration of themes is also reminiscent of the works of Werner Herzog, such as Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo, which also explore themes of love and sacrifice.

Category:Danish films Category:Swedish films Category:French films Category:Dutch films Category:Norwegian films Category:Icelandic films