Dancer in the Dark elicited such conflicting emotions form me. I found much to admire, yet was frequently dissatisfied with the stylization or even the narrative path chosen by director Lars Von Trier. Von Trier takes his camera and assaults the audience.  Here: you want to watch my fascinating story unfold, you'll have to watch it on my terms. The sing-song hand held camera thrusts of Von Trier are ironic when I think back on the polished and ravishing camera style of the director's 1991 film Zentropa, my first exposure to the director's work, a film I must say was by far the most satisfying of his I have experienced. Notice I said experienced rather than seen. Von Trier is a challenging director. Challenging the audience is his pleasure and does not necessarily add up to your pleasure.

Selma mans her machine and sings. © New Line

   Just as in his highly praised 1996 Breaking the Waves, Von Trier's protagonist is a rather simple woman, possessed by a pathetic doggedness. Living in 1960s Washington, Selma Yeskova is going blind, but her dismal and dim existence is lit by an interior light. Living a frugal existence, saving every penny she can, the immigrant from Czechoslovakia lives in a rented trailer on the property of a local policeman. Selma is  convinced her affliction awaits her young son. In the hardware fabrication factory where she works, Selma finds music in the rhythms of the machinery and escapes into a series of fantasy musical production numbers, part Busby Berkeley, part Pennies from Heaven. The highly charged breaks from reality are often exciting, but the choreography and music leaves much to be desired from my point of view. Excitement was tempered by disappointment at almost every leap, step and chord. Yet, the power of Dancer in the Dark is inescapable and its the kind of film I would sit down to watch again to give it a second chance.
    Bjork is a wonderful Selma. Fragile and at the same time incredibly strong, simple, determined, awkward and graceful. She has the power to break your heart. Von Trier has a sharp sense for casting. Catherine Deneuve, the most elegant Catherine Deneuve, plays a fellow factory worker and friend and is very effective. David Morse is excellent as Bill, the policeman cum landlord cum friend  Do you remember how frightening Peter Stomare was in Fargo playing the brute killer? He's incredibly effective in the role of the awkwardly amorous Jeff who doggedly seeks the affection of Selma.
    Happily, Dancer in the Dark gets a polished transfer from New Line. The consistently sharp images take some of the sting out of Von Trier penchant for a swinging camera. Color rendition captures Von Trier's intended look very well. Flesh tones are natural. Overall saturation is very good. Some slight edge enhancement is noticeable in peak transitions. The Dolby Digital 5:1 Surround sound is very good, creating an interesting ambient feeling for the factory scenes. There's an eerie sense of air in the prison scenes.
     There are two audio commentaries accompanying the film on this special edition. Most significant are the thoughts of director Lars Von Trier. I find these commentaries so generous, filmmakers sharing their thoughts and feelings about their work. Von Trier appears to enjoy talking about his his film very much, making listening to his lilting accent, added to by an easy laugh, very enjoyable. Von Trier in joined on his commentary by producer Vibeke Windelov, with some added comments by title sequence Artist Per Kirkeby and Technical Supervisor Peter Hjorth.  Choreographer Vincent Patterson adds his insights on another commentary, while two documentaries about the making of the film and some additional deleted scenes help make this a fine special edition.

Selections from the Feature Archive include articles on Akira Kurosawa,  Frank Darabont, Blonde Bimbos, Hollywood Street Gangs, or Vietnam: The Hollywood Pariah, and many more....

Epic Images of Kurosawa

Click on the image above for an original view of Akira Kurosawa's work

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