by Cookie N Screen
Björk is one of those artists who transcends every three years into something nouvelle and unique. I may be biased. In fact, I'm very biased. I love her. But far beyond my love and devotion to the musician is my appreciation for an incredible film. And Dancer In The Dark, a Lars von Trier musical, is one of those undeniably brilliant films that proves that Björk can dive into the world of cinema and act brilliantly.
Björk is one of those artists who transcends every three years into something nouvelle and unique. I may be biased. In fact, I'm very biased. I love her. But far beyond my love and devotion to the musician is my appreciation for an incredible film. And Dancer In The Dark, a Lars von Trier musical, is one of those undeniably brilliant films that proves that Björk can dive into the world of cinema and act brilliantly.
Set in Washington 1964, Selma (Björk) is a Czech immigrant who works in poverty to make ends meet for her and her son. Working daily with her friend Kathy (nicknamed Cvalda), Selma is a pleasant worker, a musical fan and a friend to all including Geoff, her love interest, and her neighbours Bill and Linda, from whom she rents a trailer. But Selma has a secret, she is going blind and so is her son Gene. Gradually, Selma has saved for an operation to help Gene's eyesight. Yet one disastrous night her savings are stolen and the reserved Selma must fight for them and her son's future.
There is a sense of realism in Selma that is a highlight here in director von Trier's film. Though you can get confused with the shaky camera work, it is Björk's portrayal of Selma that truly breathes. Rather than acting the character, she emotes it. For a while you forget she's Björk, you forget you are watching a film and are absorbed in a fabrication as though it were a documentary. Selma is a loving but strict and proud mother who asks for no charity and must resort to desperate measures for the sake of her son. The character has many depths and each is explored with a delicacy and fragility.
Björk is not the only star, though as her supporting cast are wonderful. Catherine Deneuve's stern Kathy and Peter Stormare's Jeff are truly brilliant allies within Selma's plight, and the humble Bill (played by David Morse) takes a dramatic character curve that is powerful and shocking. Each is unraveled before us until they collide together in a magnificent, yet horrific ending... one that stays in your mind forever.
There is a sense of realism in Selma that is a highlight here in director von Trier's film. Though you can get confused with the shaky camera work, it is Björk's portrayal of Selma that truly breathes. Rather than acting the character, she emotes it. For a while you forget she's Björk, you forget you are watching a film and are absorbed in a fabrication as though it were a documentary. Selma is a loving but strict and proud mother who asks for no charity and must resort to desperate measures for the sake of her son. The character has many depths and each is explored with a delicacy and fragility.
Björk is not the only star, though as her supporting cast are wonderful. Catherine Deneuve's stern Kathy and Peter Stormare's Jeff are truly brilliant allies within Selma's plight, and the humble Bill (played by David Morse) takes a dramatic character curve that is powerful and shocking. Each is unraveled before us until they collide together in a magnificent, yet horrific ending... one that stays in your mind forever.
To lose herself, though, Selma resorts to living in a musical in her mind, and in her mind we are offered the brilliance of Björk's soundtrack. There are many delights offered to us from the playful Cvalda (a song dedicated to Kathy) and the Oscar-nominated I've Seen It All, all of which soar amazingly into the heart of a broken soul and we get a glimpse at her emotion through song.
There are some flaws. For example, Vladica Kostic who plays Gene is a struggling child actor who is unbelievable and that's probably why he is rarely seen; and Stormare is an excellent actor, but not much of a singer. Also, the guest appearance by Joel Grey as an old Czech theatrical actor seems contrived.
Dancer In The Dark won many awards and deservedly so. It is an underrated classic that deserves more appreciation than it gets. Von Trier, despite rumors of his difficulty whilst filming, drags us into a story so compelling it is hard to peel your eyes away. While combining realistic characters with a fantastical music mind, Dancer In the Dark goes beyond that of an ordinary musical and makes it extraordinary. But, gah, certainly the ending is one of the most depressing musical endings of all time.
There are some flaws. For example, Vladica Kostic who plays Gene is a struggling child actor who is unbelievable and that's probably why he is rarely seen; and Stormare is an excellent actor, but not much of a singer. Also, the guest appearance by Joel Grey as an old Czech theatrical actor seems contrived.
Dancer In The Dark won many awards and deservedly so. It is an underrated classic that deserves more appreciation than it gets. Von Trier, despite rumors of his difficulty whilst filming, drags us into a story so compelling it is hard to peel your eyes away. While combining realistic characters with a fantastical music mind, Dancer In the Dark goes beyond that of an ordinary musical and makes it extraordinary. But, gah, certainly the ending is one of the most depressing musical endings of all time.
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