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Breaking the Waves (1996)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
13 November 1996 (USA) moreTagline:
Love is a mighty power.Plot:
Oilman Jan is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when Jan urges her to have sex with another. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 40 wins & 13 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(27 articles)
“Ticket Stubs” Review: ‘Antichrist’ - Lars Von Trier’s controversial award winner (From MovieSet.com. 6 November 2009, 3:15 PM, PST)
Antichrist review (4/5) - Chaos reigns beautifully in this must see film.
(From Movie Jungle. 22 October 2009, 7:50 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Outstanding film of complicated, unsettling ideas more (196 total)Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Emily Watson | ... | Bess McNeill | |
| Stellan Skarsgård | ... | Jan Nyman | |
| Katrin Cartlidge | ... | Dodo McNeill | |
| Jean-Marc Barr | ... | Terry | |
| Adrian Rawlins | ... | Dr. Richardson | |
| Jonathan Hackett | ... | Priest | |
| Sandra Voe | ... | Mother | |
| Udo Kier | ... | Sadistic Sailor | |
| Mikkel Gaup | ... | Pits | |
| Roef Ragas | ... | Pim | |
| Phil McCall | ... | Grandfather | |
| Robert Robertson | ... | Chairman | |
| Desmond Reilly | ... | An Elder | |
| Sarah Gudgeon | ... | Sybilla | |
| Finlay Welsh | ... | Coroner (as Finley Welsh) |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some violence.Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
159 min | USA:153 min (director's cut)Language:
EnglishColour:
Colour (Eastmancolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
Iceland:16 | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:R | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Denmark:12 | Finland:K-14 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Hungary:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | Israel:18Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The person being buried is called Anthony Dod Mantle. This is a reference to Lars von Trier's favorite cinematographer - Anthony Dod Mantle - who served as a location scout in the movie. moreQuotes:
Bess McNeill: Everyone has something they're good at. I've always been stupid, but I'm good at this. moreSoundtrack:
Happy Landing moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (196 total)
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The first time I saw Breaking the Waves, I was astonished that Emily Watson had not acted for the cinema before her turn as Bess McNeill. What she brings to the role of the naive Scottish girl offers a clinic on superlative acting that could humble veterans with ten times the experience. Another thing that makes this film so special is that it never backs away from its vivid and mature examination of love, commitment, and aspects of the metaphysical. I easily class this work as one of the top films of the 1990s. Director Lars von Trier is a true visionary, and the (largely hand-held) cinematography by Robby Muller perfectly defines the tone of the film -- in fact, the theatre where I saw Breaking the Waves posted a disclaimer that warned anyone who suffers from motion or sea-sickness to see the film at their own peril!