because you can't have too much entertainment... 2000

Lars & Björk
Dancer in the Dark Dir: Lars Von Trier Starring: Björk, Catherine Deneuve, Jean Luc Barr, Peter Stormare, David Morse, & Joel Grey.

I had the wierdest reaction to Dancer in the Dark. I have been -for as long as I can remember- obsessed with the cinema. And never have I loved a movie so much that it made me feel like not going to the movies for a while. Never have I loved a movie so much that I didn't want to tell people about it. Both of these things happened after I had this cinematic experience. I don't feel like going back to the theater until I have completely absorbed this movie (I'm sorry but anything else at this point is going to feel pointless). I don't know how to talk to people about it because the film is such a personal experience that you can end up completely unhinged by someone else's response. I stopped myself from talking about it to several people already. I knew they might not get it and I thought to myself (rather snobbishly) "the unwashed masses do not deserve this movie!"

From the opening overture frames of a gorgeous muted pattern- fabric-painting? to Bjork's hauntingly transcendent closing monologue (of sorts) I was transfixed. I can't remember being so overwhelmed by a film in my adult years. Lars Von Trier, the director, is of course world reknowned for his shockingly divisive -some would say sadistic films. One must only say the words "Breaking the Waves" to send people (well, art house denizens at least) into rapturous arguments debating his "issues", his passionate filmmaking methods, the value of Dogme (the filmmaking manifesto that fucks with Hollywood phoniness and sprung up shortly after the release of that film), and his questionably abusive way with actresses. But one thing you can certainly not say about him is that his films do not move you. You will be moved. It's just hard to say in which direction you'll go. Or if you'll want to be moved there.

I can of course only speak for myself. The places this film took me -I needed to go.

Catherine Deneuve sings with Selma in "Cvalda", the first musical number in the film.

The storyline revolves around the increasingly unstable life and eyesight of a poor Czech immigrant named Selma (Bjork) who simply loves Hollywood musicals and music in general. She needs it to survive /escape her life. The plot is a bit fantastic and decidedly in the melodrama vein but the emotions it stirs up are anything but cheap and convoluted. Selma's travails are, in fact, so painful that you long for her escape into the color saturated musical episodes within the movie as much as she herself does. The first musical moment had me giddy, the second "I've Seen It All" brought tears to my eyes. And by the end of the film I felt like I could only breath if Selma could -the shifts to Selma's musical world became my own flood of emotion and relief.

Bjork (and her music) prove to be ideal for this role and film. it's tempting to say that she is Selma but one does not become an internationally acclaimed rock star without some degree of nerve and Selma is a meek creature. Still, Iceland's musical goddess does essentially become Selma. I have not seen a performance that felt this much like reality -like existence onscreen- since River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho or, well, Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves. This is very high praise. She is astounding in the film. It helps of course that her music is the film and the character's lifeblood. Bjork has always had a way with tunes that are both unsettling and comforting -gorgeous nightmares. By the time Bjork/Selma is robbed of even her ability to escape reality -breaking down to the tune of "My Favorite Things", you are broken right along with her. There's no one like Bjork...and, believe me, there's nothing like her in this film.

Selma decides that 'she really doesn't care' in the soaring "I've Seen It All"

As for Lars Von Trier, the other half of this masterpiece's equation... his genius cup runneth over. Though Dancer in the Dark is not a dogme film per se, the director still employs some of those elements to great effect. The juxtaposition of the dogma-esque natural light, handheld camera, and improvisational acting of Selma's real world with the fantastically composed, heavily edited, and color saturation of Selma's musical fantasies make for a thrilling and profound mix. Von Trier has mastered dogme and is using its powers of truth to point out both the phoniness of Hollywood musical invention and the necessity and transcendence of the joy that springs from the same lie. It both attacks and embraces.

As for the charges of sadism regularly hoisted on Von Trier? Well, it's worth noting that, though his films are painful in their emotional intensity, they delve deep into joy and love as well. It's not all dread and doom. Selma may have a miserable life but the intense love that others feel for her is hopeful even as it tears you up. Watch for Catherine Deneuve's stunning turn as Selma's best friend and protector. There's a particular tender moment between them in a movie theater that is glorious in its intimacy. You'll also find redemption in a prison guard's benevolence toward Selma.

In addition to these matters of style and emotion -all beautifully controlled by Lars Von Trier, the film works on allegorical levels too. If you stop for a moment concentrating on the plot and characters -you can see that there's sure to be loads of academic discourse on the film. Is Dancer in the Dark really a treatise on filmmaking or the act of seeing itself? I'm sure one could argue that. There's just an embarassment of riches in the fabric of this film. Lars Von Trier has really outdone himself.

Like all musicals worth their salt, the extras get in on the act as well.

Of course, all that said, you may not feel the same. Hence my hesitation in talking about the film. Not everyone will have such a favorable reaction. There are some of you who will hate it. This breaks my heart because, for me... I was spellbound. It's a profoundly beautiful film. It is unfathomable to me that anything else will wreak such transcendent cinematic havok for a long time to come.

I'm trying but... I think, failing to express myself. Dancer in the Dark is a visionary and magical experience. The film is miraculous. I don't know where it will take you but you really should go.

-Nathaniel

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