Breaking the Waves

Movie

1996

2h 39m

Danish

Drama, Romance

User Score:

7.9

Critic Score:

Watch on MUBI

In a small and conservative Scottish village, a woman's paralytic husband convinces her to have extramarital intercourse so she can tell him about it and give him a reason for living.

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Breaking the Waves

Movie

1996

2h 39m

Danish

Drama, Romance

Play Trailer

Watch on MUBI

In a small and conservative Scottish village, a woman's paralytic husband convinces her to have extramarital intercourse so she can tell him about it and give him a reason for living.

WATCHMODE

7.9

IMDB

CRITIC SCORE

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Available in 3 other countries.

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Cast

Bess McNeill

Jan Nyman

Dodo McNeill

Terry

Dr. Richardson

Priest

Mother

Sadistic Sailor

Pits

Pim

Chairman

Grandfather

An Elder

Sybilla

Coroner

Glasgow Doctor

Man on Bus

Man at Lighthouse

Man on Boat

Young Sailor

Radio Operator

Nurse

Directed By: Lars von Trier

Written By: Lars von Trier

Featured Comments/Tips

PipiAndrade says...

4 years ago

I really liked all the kitsch melodramatic style here, mainly the score during the chapters titles. Well, just the use of the titles and another colors in it is very interesting. The epilogue was much cliché.

Like - Dislike - Comment - 10 0

Nancy L Draper says...

7 years ago

This may be a good movie, the talent was definitely there, but it was too slow, and I gave up after an hour. I could see what was coming and it was too torturous. I give it a reluctant 5 (meh) out of 10.

Like - Dislike - Comment - 10 0

CorsOfLuke says...

6 months ago

aw man, the clipping black values, the scenery, the whole deal with it being a Dogma 95 film contributes to it’s uneasiness, to how haunting, disturbing and bleak it is. It feels and is raw, and Emily Watson as Bess is amazing. Also I love me some beautiful title-screens paired with great music ;)

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Obione_TdG says...

2 years ago

The directory style might be interesting, but the plot here is really predictable from almost the first moment, and it does not tell much. Some people say that the ending changes the main message, but I do not feel that element really makes any difference to the overall message the film convoys.

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Featured User Reviews

CinemaSerf

5 months ago

Though I really didn't rate the story so much here, I thought the performance from Emily Watson as "Bess" is formidable. She lives on a remote Scottish island and is to marry oil rig worker "Jan" (Stellan Skarsgård). Somewhat reluctantly, the islanders embrace this and all is happy until she feels More

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