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Amazon.co.uk Review
Set in an unmercifully rugged, coastal village in Scotland in the 1970s, this extraordinary film by Lars von Trier stars British actress Emily Watson as a barely contained naive named Bess, who holds regular conversations with God and whose pure and intensely personal faith is hardly tolerated by the gruesome Calvinist elders of her church. Bess marries an oil-rig worker (Stellan Skarsgard) and comes to believe that erotic discovery is a part of God's grand plan. But after her spouse is hurt in an accident, she decides that divine instruction is leading her toward the life of a prostitute--with disastrous but somehow beautiful results. Von Trier (The Kingdom) has made a wonderful, entirely unexpected, and rigorous work of discovery in this film, with a formal visual design that recalls classic films by Carl Theodor Dreyer and Robert Bresson. Watson is a phenomenon, her wide-eyed wonder at the world as God's handiwork a breathtaking portrayal of conviction. --Tom Keogh
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), Italian ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), Czech ( Subtitles ), Danish ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), French ( Subtitles ), German ( Subtitles ), Greek ( Subtitles ), Hebrew ( Subtitles ), Italian ( Subtitles ), Norwegian ( Subtitles ), Portuguese ( Subtitles ), Romanian ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Bess, a young girl, falls in love with an oil-rig worker called Jan. In a short space of time they marry and have a brief physical relationship before Jan returns to his rig. When an accident paralyses Jan he encourages Bess to take a lover... SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Australian Film Institute, BAFTA Awards, Cannes Film Festival, European Film Awards, Golden Globes, Goya Awards, Oscar Academy Awards, Stockholm Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, ...Breaking the Waves
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this movie for the first time tonight, and I am completely blown away. I had it on while I was doing other things so missed bits of it, but it gradually wound its way into my consciousness and I sat, transfixed, through the remainder, and I *will* be getting this for my collection.
I don't know directors. I don't know cinematography. I'd never heard of this film before tonight, but I do know is that this is a masterpiece. It was as powerful and touching as it was brutal and raw.
Bess' conversations with God are believable in a way that I would never have credited. Her fragility and unwavering goodness and devotion to both God and her husband worked so well that I can't even begin to describe it. Someone said that it had a disappointing ending, but I can only think that they either missed the point or left before it was finished.
While the elders of the church and village are consigning Bess to eternal damnation and hell, the heavens ring out their approval of Bess and their acceptance of her sacrifices, of her love, and a miracle is born.
This film is, in itself, a miracle. The acting was superb throughout. The method of filming added to the power of the story. It is not a pleasant film. It will definitely not be for everyone. It's a love story that batters you to exhaustion, and when it finally releases you, you are grateful for the battering, for the opportunity to have experienced Bess in all her beauty and innocence and certainty.
The only films I can think of that even come close to the brilliance and brutality of this one are Pulp Fiction and Snatch, but this one goes further; it lacks the slickness of Hollywood. That isn't a criticism, either... it's a benefit.
I can't recommend it highly enough, but you will need guts to watch it.
I don't know directors. I don't know cinematography. I'd never heard of this film before tonight, but I do know is that this is a masterpiece. It was as powerful and touching as it was brutal and raw.
Bess' conversations with God are believable in a way that I would never have credited. Her fragility and unwavering goodness and devotion to both God and her husband worked so well that I can't even begin to describe it. Someone said that it had a disappointing ending, but I can only think that they either missed the point or left before it was finished.
While the elders of the church and village are consigning Bess to eternal damnation and hell, the heavens ring out their approval of Bess and their acceptance of her sacrifices, of her love, and a miracle is born.
This film is, in itself, a miracle. The acting was superb throughout. The method of filming added to the power of the story. It is not a pleasant film. It will definitely not be for everyone. It's a love story that batters you to exhaustion, and when it finally releases you, you are grateful for the battering, for the opportunity to have experienced Bess in all her beauty and innocence and certainty.
The only films I can think of that even come close to the brilliance and brutality of this one are Pulp Fiction and Snatch, but this one goes further; it lacks the slickness of Hollywood. That isn't a criticism, either... it's a benefit.
I can't recommend it highly enough, but you will need guts to watch it.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The other reviews cover the story outline, so all I will say is that I was unable to talk about the film for days after; unable to leave the cinema for ages after the film & had to shut myself in the toilets until I could stop crying. It is beautiful, haunting, poignant, effective, artfully shot, the handheld render you as feeling part of the film, part of the characters, identifying with Bess, even if normally you would have nothing in common with her.
The surreal ending is not out of context, but enhances the magic created throughout the film, with each chapter opening as if on a painted landscape. There is nothing more to say - it is the film that has most affected me - and will forever continue to do so.
27 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is an amazing film!
I live where this film was made and the portrayal of the Church and the Elders is absolutely spot on. All the characters were brilliantly cast but Emily Watson was amazing as Bess.
I have never watched a film which made me feel the way this one did.
Everything about this film is fantastic! I can't really say much more than that!
I live where this film was made and the portrayal of the Church and the Elders is absolutely spot on. All the characters were brilliantly cast but Emily Watson was amazing as Bess.
I have never watched a film which made me feel the way this one did.
Everything about this film is fantastic! I can't really say much more than that!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
unwatchable
The most depressing thing I have ever seen. By any measure this is fantastically acted - but o dear is this depressing to a point that its really unwatchable - and then von Triers... Read more
Published 4 months ago by T. Jacobs
So many people missing the point
I think this film is amazing. Anyone who reads Von Trier's work as misogynistic is simply misreading the film (in my humble opinion). Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ken Hickey
Von Trier convert
If you describe the plot of Von Trier films they sound like porn or sci-fi or soap opera - but he dares to take those risks with such humanity, conviction and technical skill that... Read more
Published 5 months ago by metalmouth
Amor Omnies!
It is impossible to not be moved by Lars von Trier's incredible masterpiece of love, faith, feminism and miracle set on the Isle of Skye and that launched Emily Watson's career to... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Omnes
best film ever
Breaking the waves is a film that really fills one with so much joy and sadness, a great film not to be missed. fantastic acting, fantastic location, an amazing film.
Published 12 months ago by malika
Painful but wonderful
Lars von Trier doesn't make movies that are easy to watch and Breaking the Waves is no exception for a number of reasons. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Nobody Famous
an 'art' film that really works
firstly words cannot describe the performance offered up here by emily watson in her first movie role. Its simply a disgrace that she never won any 'awards' from the industry. Read more
Published 15 months ago by the lone voice of reason
Devastating
This is not for faint-hearted. We are emotionally devastated after watching the film. For students of film-making and script writing, this film may offer study example.
Published 16 months ago by Adlerinternational
Von Trier at his most despicable
Few director's careers have been so inconstent, Lars Von Trier's output ranges from masterpiece to utter pig headed trash. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Someone right
Didn't get it
I'm the father of the 14 year old who I ordered this for.It hasn't arrived.I'm not thrilled by this.The books arrived.
Paul Southard
Paul Southard
Published on 8 April 2010 by Paul Southard
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