Breaking The Waves (1996)

Director

Lars von Trier

Writing credits

Lars von Trier

Cast

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 ... Elder
Sarah Gudgon ... Sybilla
Finlay Welsh ... Sheriff
David Gallacher ... Doctor (Glasgow)
Ray Jeffries ... Man (bus)
Owen Kavanagh ... Man (lighthouse)
Bob Docherty ... Man (motorboat)
David Bateson ... Young Sailor
Callum Cuthbertson ... Radio Operator
Gavin Mitchell ... Policeman
Brian Smith
Iain Agnew ... Praying Man 1
Charles Kearney ... Praying Man 2
Steven Leach ... Praying Man 3
Dorte Roemer ... Nurse
Anthony O'Donnell ... Boy 1
John Wark ... Boy 2
Ronnie McKellaig ... Presenter
Peter Bensted ... Ugly Man (voice)
Simon Towler Jorfaid ... Boy in Film (voice)

Produced by

Axel Helgeland (co-producer)
Peter Aalbæk Jensen
Lars Jönsson (executive)
Rob Langestraat (co-producer)
Marianne Slot (co-producer)
Vibeke Windeløv
Peter van Vogelpoel (co-producer)

Original music by

Joachim Holbek

Cinematography by

Robby Müller

Film Editing by

Anders Refn

Casting

Job Gosschalk

Production Design by

Karl Juliusson

Art Direction

Karl Juliusson

Costume Design by

Binkie Darling
Manon Rasmussen

Makeup Department

Sanne Gravfort ... makeup artist
Jennifer Jorfaid ... makeup artist

Production Management

Lene Nielsen ... unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Morten Arnfred ... assistant director

Sound Department

Julien Naudin ... foley artist
Per Streit .... sound designer

Special Effects

Lars Andersen ... special effects

Stunts

Terry Forestal ... stunt co-ordinator

Other crew

Stephen Burt ... runner
Linda Daae ... continuity
Peter Grant ... property master
Morten Kleener ... location manager
Rolf Konow ... still photographer

Other crew

Jesper Find ... first assistant camera
Michael Nielsen ... color timer

Runtime Denmark:158
Denmark / Sweden / France / Netherlands / Norway
Language English
Color (Eastmancolor)
Sound Mix Dolby Digital

STORY

Set in the early 1970's amid a small, tightly-knit community on the remote north coast of Scotland, BREAKING THE WAVES tells the story of Bess, a young, naive girl, and her profound experience of love. Bess, who has lived her life protected by her family -- her mother, grandfather and recently widowed sister-in law, Dodo -- within the confined world of strict Calvinism, falls in love with Jan, a stalwart oil-rig worker and man of the world. Jan, in turn, is captivated by Bess' innocence and the purity she radiates. Despite local opposition, the couple marries. For a brief and happy time, the newlyweds live an intense love life; but when Jan has to return to the oil-rig, Bess is distraught. Their long, nightly phone calls charged with emotion, fail to quell her longing and she prays fervently to God for Jan's return. The return is sooner than expected: an explosion on the rig seriously injures Jan and suffering potentially fatal brain damage and total paralysis, he is flown back to the hospital.

In this state he realizes that he will never be Bess' lover again. He finds it unbearable to think of young Bess being deprived of sensual passion again. Despite her misgivings, he persuades her to go out and enjoy herself and to take a lover. In order to convince her and to make sure that she does this, he tells her that it will help his recovery if she returns to his bedside to describe the events. Bess, in her naivete, believes that Jan's health can be affected by her conduct, and in her innocence she spirals into a world she does not understand.

Denied the support of her conservative community, Bess is abandoned and exiled. However, believing that her actions are helping her beloved Jan, she calls on her strength of conviction and ignores her own safety in the hope that a miracle will give Jan back to her. She plunges into the ultimate sacrifice, willing to risk her life for her husband and their love for one another.

REVIEWS

"A ludicrous soap opera... " by Melissa Morrison
"Anchored by an extraordinary..." by Eddie Cockrell
"There was a point..." by Nathaniel R. Atcheson
"Love story ebbs and flows" by Liz Braun
"Bessie does Scotland" by Will Geeslin