Breaking the Waves

Denmark, France, 1996

Drama, History

Synopsis

In the outskirts of Scotland, Bess, a religious young woman, falls in love with and marries a handsome oil rig worker. Soon, an unfortunate work accident cripples him for life, which shatters Bess’s world completely, especially when he encourages her to take on other lovers.

Our take

From controversial director Lars von Trier comes the first entry in his Golden Heart trilogy, which was followed by The Idiots and the Palme d’Or winning Dancer in the Dark. Starring Emily Watson in an uncompromising performance, Breaking the Waves remains one of Von Trier’s finest achievements.

Breaking the Waves Directed by Lars von Trier

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Awards & Festivals

Cannes Film Festival

1996 | Winner: Grand Prize of the Jury

1996 | Nominee: Palme d'Or

Academy Awards

1997 | Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role

Independent Spirit Awards

1997 | Nominee: Best Foreign Film

Toronto International Film Festival

2011

2010

1996 | 2nd place: Metro Media Award

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Cast & Crew

Critics reviews

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The roughness of the style—it’s like listening to a punk song. And I really loved the way that the female character is portrayed. There is something very disturbing and strong about the tension between sexual energy and spiritual searching.

Sebastián Lelio

June 01, 2018

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Terrific though it is, Breaking The Waves is, in one respect, an unusual choice for the Criterion Collection, which has released it in its now-standard DVD/Blu-ray combo package. Though shot on celluloid, this is one cruddy-looking movie; Von Trier and cinematographer Robby Müller prioritize the performances at all costs… [Still,] Breaking The Waves showcases [Von Trier] at his most pure and vulnerable, and it remains a bracing experience.

Mike D'Angelo

April 16, 2014

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Above all, though, it’s a thrilling, utterly unpredictable suspense story that propelled von Trier to global recognition as one of the most adventurous writer-directors on the contemporary scene, and easily the most gifted one to come from Scandinavia since Ingmar Bergman emerged in the 1940s.

David Sterritt

April 14, 2014

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What are people saying?

ihor's rating of the film Breaking the Waves
ihor

From a bare look at the plot this film can appear a typical melodrama. Essentially it's just a tragic love story set in working class religious Scottish Highlands. Trier's magic though, in the tradition of Cassavetes and Fassbinder, transforms this base into an intense psychological study of human passion and it's extremes. All while a realist style challenging beauty and perversion is at play.
April 01, 2019 18:23
- 4
- 0
JoãoOliveira's rating of the film Breaking the Waves
JoãoOliveira

astonishing acting from Emily Watson together with brilliant direction from Von Trier, making this a nearly perfect movie
April 01, 2019 18:20
- 2
- 2
Flaspeneer's rating of the film Breaking the Waves
Flaspeneer

One of my favorite movies from any decade. I'll try to say something intelligent about it once I watch it again for the thirtieth time here on Mubi.
June 02, 2019 00:19
- 3
- 0
Sneerwell's rating of the film Breaking the Waves
Sneerwell

My favourite of the Golden Heart trilogy. Von Trier is brilliant at de-sacralizing the eternal story, placing it right in the dull and humdrum life at the gloomy seaside. Emily Watson made it wonderfully, but I think she stuck too deeply to this part and shows those watery eyes and trembling lips over and over again.
April 01, 2019 18:19
- 3
- 0
Michael Convery's rating of the film Breaking the Waves
Michael Convery

An eccentric drama about faith in love and faith in the absurd, and makes me question the line separating the two.
April 28, 2020 01:11
- 3
- 0
rrrno's rating of the film Breaking the Waves
rrrno

Esta película es un milagro, como lo fue su trama una de las mas maravillosas actuaciones que vi (Emily Watson), escenas inolvidables simple y magistral.
March 23, 2019 13:46
- 2
- 0
MCLang89's rating of the film Breaking the Waves
MCLang89

Emily Watson is unforgettable in this film! Von Trier really knows how to pull the best performances from his actresses.
April 01, 2019 18:15
- 2
- 0
XTRMNTR's rating of the film Breaking the Waves
XTRMNTR

This is the most devastating film ever. It will ruin your day, but it's totally worth it.
March 23, 2019 13:46
- 2
- 0