An Eastern European US immigrant with a love for musicals has to cope with the gradual loss of her vision.An Eastern European US immigrant with a love for musicals has to cope with the gradual loss of her vision.An Eastern European US immigrant with a love for musicals has to cope with the gradual loss of her vision.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 34 wins & 48 nominations total
Siobhan Fallon Hogan
- Brenda
- (as Siobhan Fallon)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
7.9122.6K
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Featured reviews
Pure torture to watch, but I gave it an 8
Why? Because it's a one of a kind movie. The acting is superb (especially Bjork), direction assured and the musical numbers are great. Still, it's the most depressing film I've ever seen. By the end of the film I was crying practically non-stop. It's so bleak I don't think I'll ever see it again, but it should be seen at least once by everybody. It shows misery and suffering full throttle. You'll either love it or loathe it (I'm somewhere in th middle), but you'll never see anything like it again and you won't forget it. Just bring lots of Kleenex.
It destroyed me.
Saddest movie i've ever seen. I almost never cry in films, but this one made me feel so.. empty. I connected with Björk's character and i empathized as never before. Their songs are so wonderful and perfect to the film, comparing her naïve and romantic personality, to the sad, cruel and sorrowful reality. The contrast is so intense...
The last scene is so damn sad. There wasn't necessary to sacrifice the most heartbreaking and beautiful character i've ever seen, this shows there's no limit to the love of a mother. I seriously don't have enough words to describe how this film made me feel, it's not easy found a masterpiece like this, instead of a lot of FX, explosions and butts who their only objective is selling, this movie is... pure emotions. Humanity.
The last scene is so damn sad. There wasn't necessary to sacrifice the most heartbreaking and beautiful character i've ever seen, this shows there's no limit to the love of a mother. I seriously don't have enough words to describe how this film made me feel, it's not easy found a masterpiece like this, instead of a lot of FX, explosions and butts who their only objective is selling, this movie is... pure emotions. Humanity.
Experimental, jarring, beautiful
Dancer in the Dark haunted me. This film was an amazing view into the human mind as well as a tragic story of hopeless hope, betrayal by others, and still remaining true to yourself. Bjork produces an inspirational performance, of which one would never think she is not primarily an actress. Some of her moments in this film bring you to tears with their absolute honesty. The ensemble cast are a godsend as well. Peter Stormare, Catherine Denevue, and David Morse in particular. Morse, playing the most varied and difficult character, succeeds with apparent ease. The only complaint I had of the film is that it was slightly drawn out and slow paced. However, it is still spiked with moments of surprise that knock you so hard, you are pulled back in immediately. With an incredible closeness to these people, Dancer in the Dark will make you think and stretch your emotions to the limit.
Most terifying film of I've ever seen.
This film is brutal, it's not violent, but it's so intense, so sad, so depressing, that I could barely watch it. If you want to cry this film is a must watch. The storyline is fantastic, the cinematography is "cheap" and that makes it artistic. The music was fantastic, sad, creepy, meaningful and it wasn't out of random like in most musicals, here it made sense to exist.
It's one of the best musicals I've ever seen, it's one of the best dramas I've ever seen. It is one of the best films I've ever seen.
It's one of the best musicals I've ever seen, it's one of the best dramas I've ever seen. It is one of the best films I've ever seen.
Sad, but good....
I admit I had to watch this a few times, the music is intriguing and ethereal, but the story seems on a parallel universe of strange, then scary, then a form of horror. But also a story of hope, which is to say, its confusing.
Basically Selma is a Czech immigrant who wants to find a life for herself, she has a secret in that her disease causes her to become at first near-sighted and myopic, she then is nearly blind.
She does not live a pretty life, works in a factory but finds that the machines are rhythmic, and as she also enjoys old musicals from the 40's and 50's this is her form of escape. This is the better part of the story, her spirit and how she endeavors to survive.
I am not a major fan of Bjork but I do like her voice and she is very affecting here, I think I had seen a very odd documentary about her made early in her career.
Am wondering what she is doing lately, as this film is well-acted and she portrays the sad and eventually discarded Selma, in a very convincing yet not trite manner. Good performances also with David Morse, Cara Seymour, Peter Stormare and the always beautiful Catherine Deneuve. 9/10.
Basically Selma is a Czech immigrant who wants to find a life for herself, she has a secret in that her disease causes her to become at first near-sighted and myopic, she then is nearly blind.
She does not live a pretty life, works in a factory but finds that the machines are rhythmic, and as she also enjoys old musicals from the 40's and 50's this is her form of escape. This is the better part of the story, her spirit and how she endeavors to survive.
I am not a major fan of Bjork but I do like her voice and she is very affecting here, I think I had seen a very odd documentary about her made early in her career.
Am wondering what she is doing lately, as this film is well-acted and she portrays the sad and eventually discarded Selma, in a very convincing yet not trite manner. Good performances also with David Morse, Cara Seymour, Peter Stormare and the always beautiful Catherine Deneuve. 9/10.
Did you know
- TriviaIt took Lars von Trier a whole year to convince Björk to play the lead role.
- GoofsSelma's son's surname should be Jezek, not Jezková.
- Quotes
Lines on screen: They say it's the last song. They don't know us, you see. It's only the last song if we let it be.
- Alternate versionsThe film originally contained a song entitled "141 Steps"; however, after the Cannes premiere, director Lars von Trier decided to shorten it, and the song was subsequently reworked and retitled "107 Steps."
- SoundtracksOverture
Written by Björk
Arranged, Orchestrated & Conducted by Vincent Mendoza
Produced by Björk
Mixed by Mark Stent (as Mark "Spike" Stent)
Published by Universal Music
- How long is Dancer in the Dark?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Bailando en la oscuridad
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $12,800,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,184,036
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $91,612
- Sep 24, 2000
- Gross worldwide
- $40,061,153
- Runtime
- 2h 15m(135 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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