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Dancer In The Dark [DVD] [2000]
 
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Dancer In The Dark [DVD] [2000]

DVD ~ Björk
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (57 customer reviews)

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Dancer In The Dark [DVD] [2000]
51% buy the item featured on this page:
Dancer In The Dark [DVD] [2000] 4.4 out of 5 stars (57)
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Dancer In The Dark [DVD] [2000] 4.8 out of 5 stars (5)
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Product details

  • Actors: Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Peter Stormare, Joel Grey
  • Directors: Lars von Trier
  • Writers: Lars von Trier
  • Producers: Anja Grafers, Els Vandevorst, Finn Gjerdrum, Friðrik Þór Friðriksson, Lars Jönsson
  • Format: Box set, PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Cinema Club
  • DVD Release Date: 12 Aug 2002
  • Run Time: 134 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0000594ZK
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 17,151 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Masterpiece or masquerade? Lars von Trier's digicam musical split the critics in two when it debuted at last year's Cannes film festival. There were those who saw it as a cynical shock-opera from a manipulative charlatan, others wept openly at its scenes of raw emotion and heart-rending intensity. There is, however, no in-between. Dancer In The Dark is that rarest of creatures, a film that dares to push viewers to the limits of their feelings.

In her first, and most probably last screen performance (she has foresworn acting after her bruising on-set rows with von Trier), brittle Icelandic chanteuse Björk plays Selma, a Czech immigrant living in a folksy American small town with her young son Gene. Selma is going blind and so will Gene if she does not arrange an important operation for him. To cover the expense, Selma works every hour she can, cheating on her eye tests so she can keep working at the local factory long after her vision has become too unreliable to work safely. She sublets a house from local-cop Bill (David Morse) and his wife, Linda (Cara Seymour). When nearly bankrupt Bill asks Selma for a loan she refuses, but he later returns and steals the money, which she demands back in a furious confrontation. In the ensuing mélee, Bill is fatally shot and Selma is arrested and put on trial. Will justice prevail?

Von Trier's passionate, provocative film runs all our emotional resources dry with suspense, giving us occasional flashes into Selma's gold heart and mind with superb song-and-dance numbers she conjures to banish the nightmare (Björk also wrote the score). At some two-and-a-half hours, it's not for lightweights, but anyone bored with today's smug, "ironic" cinema will relish this as an astonishing assault on the senses and a stark reminder of Von Trier's uncompromising talent. --Damon Wise

DVD Description
DVD Special Features
Selma's Song
Interview with Lars Von Trier
Behind the Scenes
Theatrical Trailer
Audio Description for the Visually Impaired
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English for the Hard of Hearing

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Customer Reviews

57 Reviews
5 star:
 (43)
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 (6)
3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (57 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars moving, 23 May 2007
By jeevinesh (Liverpool, UK) - See all my reviews
A movie that sparks polarised opinions. I loved it. There are two hurdles before one should consider this movie.

Firstly, Bjork. This movie is largely about her music, style and speech. Watch a couple of her music videos and if you find yourself detesting any of the above, spare yourself the two hours.

Secondly, this movie is essentially a musical. If this genre doesn't appeal to you, then steer clear.

If you pass the above two criteria, then expect to be transported to the musical world of Bjork, where dreams and reality come together in song. Excellent character portrayal of the Selma you end up loving and the Bill you end up hating.

I last watched this movie three years ago and still remember the impact it had on me.

Reiterating, it is only worth the watch if you are able to tolerate Bjork's eccentrics.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best film I have ever seen?, 24 Jan 2003
By joseph loveland (London, UK) - See all my reviews
Having been a massive fan of Bjork for some time. I couldn't wait to see this film. There have been many examples of pop stars crossing over into the film with limited success - Madonna immediately springs to mind although I did enjoy "Evita". However, Bjork is no ordinary pop star and her music is anything but. Her performance in this film is truly amazing. "Dancer in the Dark" tells the stroy of Selma, a Czech imigrant to the United States. Selma has a gentic disorder that means she is rapidly losing her sight. Her son, Gene also has the disorder and will begin to lose his sight too if he doesn't have an operation before he becomes an adult. Selma blames herself for having a child knowing that he would have the disorder and therfore works as many hours as possible in a local factory trying to save enough money to pay for the operation. Her only escape from this mundane existence his her love for Hollywood musicals. She is a member of a local drama group who are reharsing for a production of "The Sound of Music" and it's at a reharsal that the film begins.
What struck me most about the beginning of the film was the way in which the director, Lars von Trier, uses a video camera to give the piece a documentary feel. It is only when Selma burts into song that we are treated to full digital colour. The transistions between the songs and the rest of the film are truly amazing. Actors begin to move in different ways, shapes change, moving objects do so in time with the music which often comes from sounds that are occuring naturally within the scene. My personal favourite song is one in which Selma, walking across a railway bridge, accepts that she is nearly blind with a child-like abandonment that can't fail to move.
Without wanting to give too much of the plot away, Selma's land-lord (a local police officer) steals Selma's money. She asks for it back and he refuses. Selma is forced to make a decision. Let him keep the money or fight back. She makes her choice and we are taken on a roller-coaster journey of emotions as Selma accepts the consequences of her decision. As the film reaches it's harrowing climax Bjork plays Selma with such conviction that you can't help but be physically drwan into the action. The rest of the cast deliver solid performaces, most notably, Catherine Deneuve who, as Selma's work-colleauge and friend, echoes the emotions of the viewer without drifting off into sentimentality.
There are many people who probably will not like this film. But I can honestly say it is probably the best film I have ever seen.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Achingly wonderful, 29 Oct 2001
By A Customer
I really do believe that this film is a masterpiece!!I had previously seen Lars Von Triers 'Breaking the Waves', which i found very odd, but other than the hand held camera work, there was no similarity between the two. I have never been so emotionally engaged in a film before. Bjork was amazing - so thoroughly deserving of the Cannes best actress award she won for this role. Her character, Selma, has to be one of the sweetest and loveliest I have ever seen. I also adored the songs, which were written by Bjork. 'New World', the last song in the film, is totally heartbraking and at the same time uplifting. The musical interludes are not at all hard to swallow, as the songs are so original and beautiful. Anyone who doesn't so much as shed a tear during this film has no soul!

On the DVD there are some good extras, including an interview with Lars Von Trier, and behind the scenes footage. But the film alone is worth the money. You have to see this film.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One for Björk fans!
This little indie film is seriously one of the best I have seen in a LONG time....

Björk's acting is undoubtedly amazing. Read more
Published 6 months ago by pinkfairyice

5.0 out of 5 stars original, sad, a little odd...
After watching this film I have stumbled across many a bad review, critics slating Bjork saying that it was a bad move to ever make this film etc. Read more
Published 15 months ago by H. Flynn

5.0 out of 5 stars A staggeringly intense emotional rollercoaster
I've never been affected like this by a film ever before. I was completely floored by this remarkable film. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Bones

1.0 out of 5 stars Abandon all hope
Inept, tedious, overlong. Bjork - Let's call her Berk - is truly the most awful actress on the planet, and why this talentless egotist was allowed on screen is solely because she... Read more
Published 23 months ago by movielover

5.0 out of 5 stars masterpiece
I was in tears for ages after this film, Bjork was amazing and I cant believe she has given up acting. If you want to see a truly great movie then watch this
Published on 17 May 2007 by Matthew Cox

4.0 out of 5 stars bleak yet really enjoyable
dancer in the dark is a special film,a film that blurs the bounaries and goes against the idea of a nice safe happy ending,the film is raw,yet beautiful in a way,provoking yet... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2007 by sean paul mccann

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterclass
Forget the storyline and the musical interludes. This film is all about Bjork. What seems like a great performance becomes, in the final three scenes, a truly exceptional... Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2006 by P. Maguire

3.0 out of 5 stars Balancing the rules of dogme against conventional cinematic entertainment
Whilst certainly an inspiring piece of work, I would certainly advise approaching with caution. Lars Von Trier's films are internationally recognised, yet equally as controversial... Read more
Published on 28 Oct 2006 by M. Lowe

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
I watched this film last night and i have to say the only other film i have ever seen in my life that has made an impression on me is A Snake of June. Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2006 by Steven Powell

1.0 out of 5 stars Just buy the Soundtrack !
I'll start by saying that I'm a huge Bjork fan - she's a musical genius. This film has a feel of "Twin Peaks" about it but without the entertainment and quality. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2006 by RodThePlod

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