Directed by:
Lars von TrierCinematography:
Robby MüllerCast:
Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr, Adrian Rawlins, Udo Kier, Mikkel Gaup, Sandra Voe, Phil McCall, David Bateson (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
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 and innocent 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's innocence and the purity she radiates. Despite local opposition the couple marry.
For a brief and happy time the newly-weds live an intense love life but when Jan has to return to the oil-rig, Bess is distraught. The 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 hospital. In this state he realises that he will never be Bess' lover again. He finds it unbearable to think of Bess being deprived of sensual passion again. Despite her misgivings, he persuades her to go out and enjoy herself; to take a lover. In order to convince her and to make sure that she does this, he suggests that it will help with his recovery if she returns to his bedside to describe the events, encouraging her to detail the sex. But Bess, in her naivety, 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 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. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Academy Awards
- 1997 - Emily Watson (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role)
Independent Spirit Awards
- 1997 - Lars von Trier (Best International Film)
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
- 1997 - Emily Watson (Best Leading Actress)
European Film Awards
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Best Film)
- 1996 - Emily Watson (Best Actress)
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (FIPRESCI Prize)
César Awards
- 1997 - Best Foreign Film
Goya Awards
- 1997 - Lars von Trier (Best European Feature)
Robert Awards (Danish Film Awards)
- 1997 - Lars von Trier (Best Danish Film)
- 1997 - Emily Watson (Best Actress in a Leading Role)
- 1997 - Katrin Cartlidge (Best Actress in a Supporting Role)
- 1997 - Lars von Trier (Best Screenplay)
- 1997 - Robby Müller (Best Cinematography)
- 1997 - Karl Júlíusson (Best Production Design)
- 1997 - Anders Refn (Best Editing)
- 1997 - Jennifer Jorfaid, Sanne Gravfort (Best Make-Up)
- 1997 - Per Streit (Best Sound)
Guldbagge Awards
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Best Foreign Film)
Amanda Awards
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Best Nordic Film (Nordic Amanda))
Golden Globes
- 1997 - Best Motion Picture – Drama
- 1997 - Emily Watson (Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama)
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
- 1996 - Best Film
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
- 1996 - Emily Watson (New Generation Award)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Best Director)
- 1996 - Emily Watson (Best Actress)
- 1996 - Robby Müller (Best Cinematographer)
- 1996 - Best Film
Cannes Film Festival
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Grand Prize)
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Golden Palm - Official Competition)