Breaking the Waves

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Leaburn O Von Trier can be masterful at his best and this is another example of some stunning filmmaking. A bleak, profound, spiritual, hugely affecting and unorthodox love story. I was so close to giving it five stars and then it was ruined by a plain awful final scene that really disappointed me. What came before however, cannot be erased. Watched on DVD. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review Mason M One of the things that Lars Von Trier is best at is extreme emotion, and Breaking The Waves is a prime example of that. This film is shot with bleak colors and shakey handheld camerawork, but Von Trier is still able to make it beautiful through the emotion, Emily Watson's amazing performance, and amazing title cards that feel like a moving painting. Though a very difficult watch, due to the graphic nudity, almost 3 hour runtime, and heavy emotional weight, the beautiful final shot makes every minute of the film a minute well spent. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/11/24 Full Review Lennox M One of the best and most powerful movies I have ever seen. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/13/24 Full Review Melanie G Five stars based on Emily Watson's performance. I started watching this on television in my bedroom while ironing clothes, knew nothing about it. Half an hour later I was sitting on my bed with my mouth hanging open. Watson is simply phenominal. Excellent direction, casting, and editing too. It's a very intense movie - not something you'd want to show for a jolly social event, but every bit worth watching. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Jackie W a story not every one will understand, but as a metaphor for messy sexuality well done Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member "Every woman here has to learn to be alone." Such is the matronly wisdom Bess (Emily Watson) receives from her mother (Sandra Voe), concerning their remote Scottish village's proximity to the oil rigs in the North Sea, which pull the men from their marriage beds for work like magnets. Bess is a "feeble-minded" twentysomething (I think?) year-old girl who marries a handsome Dane named Jan (Stellan Skarsgård). Everything is new to Bess, it seems, who possesses a childlike (but not –ish) approach to love, religion, and sex. However, Bess is presented with an unimaginable challenge when her newly betrothed is injured during a workplace accident, rendering him almost completely paralyzed from the neck down. What we get is not a "feeble-minded" young woman, but someone unbelievably strong and resolved in their love for their husband, even when that person presents them with, somehow, another gut-wrenching challenge. Jan wants Bess to sleep with other men and then share the experiences with him. I was surprised to find other reviewers (most notably Roger Ebert) describe this request as cruel. At first, I considered this a way for Jan to share some sexual connection with his wife while also permitting her to enjoy the physical pleasures that accompany sex. Much of the plot follows Bess as she juggles these excruciating challenges life has presented to her — she also speaks directly to God, who manifests himself through Bess in a paternal voice of succor. Watson creates a character in Bess that is special — I immediately want to see more of her movies. I was a little confused at the artsy "chapter breaks," but came to love them. Where the film really ascends are the final few scenes. I mean, it's like one punch to the gut after another — only here can watching a previously paralyzed man walk appear merciless. Bess's final line, the funeral, those heavenly, heavenly bells, it's all so poignant and beautiful. I almost feel like I need to re-watch this very soon, something I rarely do, Breaking the Waves is a gorgeous movie and a must-watch. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Breaking the Waves

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