Breaking the Waves 1996

     The setting of this film is the north of Scotland at a deeply religious and repressed community during the 1970’s.  Bess McNeil marries Danish oil rig worker Jan.  The natives don't like their people to marry outside of the community.  Bess has a very hard time after their wedding when Jan needs to return to the rig located in the North Sea.  She prays that he will return permanently and not need to go away.  Unfortunately, he does return with a broken neck in an accident on the rig.  Bess feels responsible for his injury and she feels responsible for his healing.  She believes his recovery depends on what she does with her life.

     There is nothing at all light about this film!!  The elders at the local Church believe they have the right to condemn some of the dead to hell.  Bess is naïve and she had a breakdown when her brother passed away.  3* (This movie is OK) 

159 min, Drama directed by Lars von Trier with Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgard, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr, Adrian Rawlins, Jonathan Hackett, Sandra Voe, Udo Kier, Mikkel Gaup, Roef Ragas, Phil McCall.

Note:  Imdb 7.9 out of 10, 86% critic 91% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Copenhagen, Sjaelland, Denmark and Highland, Scotland.  This is the first film in a Lars von Trier trilogy titled Golden Heart.  The other two films are The Idiots 1998 and Dancer in the Dark 2000.  Emily Watson was 28 at the time of filming and Stellan Skarsgard was 44.