Dancer in the Dark is a 2000 Danish musical film by Lars von Trier who is largely known for Dogme 95, an avant garde film making movement. The movie was led by Icelandic singer Bjork. It also starred the legendary Catherine Deneuve, theater and musical genius Joel Grey and other notable actors.
Bjork has written most of the songs in the movie. The story is about a young European mother who came to America with her young son, thinking that her life will be like a Hollywood film. She is coming to terms with her impending blindness and on how she can save her son from the same fate by saving enough money to provide for the necessary surgery for him. She and her son lived frugally to come up with enough money for her son’s operation. However, her landlord, David Morse character in the movie was in big financial trouble, he confided his troubles to Bjork and learned from her that she is going blind, and that she has saved enough money to send her son for the needed operation. David took advantage of this knowledge and stole the money from her. When she realized that the money was gone she went straight to David to confront him only to realize that David told his wife that she made advances on him and he turned her down that’s why she was acting strange. David pleaded with her and asks her to kill him to end all his troubles. His wife found him bleeding to death and Bjork was sent to prison for her crime she was sentenced to be hanged and all of her friends rallied beside her but she didn’t heed their calls to fight against her sentence. She refused to see her son during her incarceration and she strongly instructed Deneuve to do as she was told not to bring him over.
The movie is not your typical Fred Astaire singing and dancing film. And you won’t be seeing big musical production ala Moulin Rouge. However the bareness of the movie has its own brand of affecting the viewers. It’s not a light movie, though acting wise it’s not heavy on drama but the plainness of emotion has its way of telling gripping emotions that I have never experienced in other films. I did felt drained and a little tired after watching this film. For me it’s a powerful movie, I suggest to anyone who wishes to see this film is to condition their selves first as this film has a way of siphoning strength.
I give it ¶¶¶¶¶ for its rareness…
