Dancer in the Dark- Film Review by Muhammad Patel

Dancer in the Dark- Film Review

Cast: Bjork, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Peter Stormare, Vladica Kostic, Siobhan Fallon
Director: Lars Von Trier
Screenplay: Lars Von Trier
Rating: 5/5


Visionary director Lars Von Trier brings us another controversial yet breathtaking film, his latest work of art “Dancer in the Dark” is an emotional musical drama which inspires and exhilarates.

Dancer in the Dark is a simple story of a Selma (Bjork) a Czech immigrant in rural 1960’s America who is suffering from an unnamed genetic illness causing her to slowly go blind. She is a single mother working in a factory trying to save enough money for an operation that will save her son from inheriting her fate. Due to unforeseen events Selma is involved in a murder and left to face a tragic end.

Dancer in the Dark is a charming film because to escape her desperation Selma envisages herself as part of the musicals she adores so much. It is these interludes of colour and exuberance that add colour to Selma’s bleak, dull existence.

The main lead (Selma) is played superbly by Bjork, she plays her in a child-like manner. She makes the audience feel we can see her situation from her perspective, a blurry vision of depression, fantasy and an unrequited love for her son. The relationship between Selma and her son Gene (Vladica Kostic) is awkward and in parts funny but the chemistry between the two characters is mesmerising

What makes the film so spectacular is that it is a gritty drama that uses songs to drive along the narrative. Only a director with such creative vision as Lars Von Trier could create such a poignant love story between a character burdened with blindness and the musical rhythms around her.

The moment that culminates the whole film for me is the conversation between Selma and the prison guard Brenda (Siobhan Fallon) when Selma says:

Selma: In a musical nothing dreadful ever happens.

I think everyone in the world wishes that they could escape the harsh realities of life however no matter how bright the light we always fade into darkness at the end.