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IMDbPro

Breaking the Waves

  • 1996
  • R
  • 2h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
69K
YOUR RATING
Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
Theatrical Trailer from October Films
Play trailer2:09
1 Video
84 Photos
Drama

Oilman Jan is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when Jan urges her to have sex with another.Oilman Jan is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when Jan urges her to have sex with another.Oilman Jan is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when Jan urges her to have sex with another.

  • Director
    • Lars von Trier
  • Writers
    • Lars von Trier
    • Peter Asmussen
    • David Pirie
  • Stars
    • Emily Watson
    • Stellan Skarsgård
    • Katrin Cartlidge
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    69K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lars von Trier
    • Writers
      • Lars von Trier
      • Peter Asmussen
      • David Pirie
    • Stars
      • Emily Watson
      • Stellan Skarsgård
      • Katrin Cartlidge
    • 250User reviews
    • 96Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 44 wins & 28 nominations total

    Videos1

    Breaking the Waves
    Trailer 2:09
    Watch Breaking the Waves

    Photos84

    Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
    Jonathan Hackett in Breaking the Waves (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Emily Watson
    Emily Watson
    • Bess McNeill
    Stellan Skarsgård
    Stellan Skarsgård
    • Jan Nyman
    Katrin Cartlidge
    Katrin Cartlidge
    • Dodo McNeill
    Jean-Marc Barr
    Jean-Marc Barr
    • Terry
    Adrian Rawlins
    Adrian Rawlins
    • Dr. Richardson
    Jonathan Hackett
    • Priest
    Sandra Voe
    • Mother
    Udo Kier
    Udo Kier
    • Sadistic Sailor
    Mikkel Gaup
    Mikkel Gaup
    • Pits
    Roef Ragas
    Roef Ragas
    • Pim
    Phil McCall
    • Grandfather
    Robert Robertson
    • Chairman
    Desmond Reilly
    • An Elder
    Sarah Gudgeon
    • Sybilla
    Finlay Welsh
    Finlay Welsh
    • Coroner
    • (as Finley Welsh)
    David Gallacher
    • Glasgow Doctor
    Ray Jeffries
    • Man on Bus
    Owen Kavanagh
    • Man at Lighthouse
    • Director
      • Lars von Trier
    • Writers
      • Lars von Trier
      • Peter Asmussen
      • David Pirie(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Theatrical film debut of Emily Watson. She received an Oscar nomination for her role in this film.
    • Goofs
      When Jan leaves to go to the rig, one of the crew men gives Bess a flask of liquor. When she takes a sip, she's holding the flask with both hands and its opening is on the left side. There's a quick cut, and in the next shot the opening is shown to be on the right side of the flask.
    • Quotes

      Dodo McNeill: Not one of you has the right to consign Bess to hell!

    • Alternate versions
      The director's cut of the film, featuring explicit shots removed from the U.S. version for ratings purposes, is available on Criterion laserdisc.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Space Jam/The Mirror Has Two Faces/The English Patient/Breaking the Waves (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      All the Way from Memphis
      Written by Ian Hunter

      Performed by Mott the Hoople

    User reviews250

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Leap of Faith
    "Dogville" is one of my all-time favourite films, and the most disturbing film I've ever seen. I've wanted to see "Breaking the Waves" in quite a while, and recently I finally had the chance. Now I can't say which one is better. What a heartbreaking experience. Emily Watson had one of the best film debuts ever, and this is probably the most accomplished female performance I've seen since Julianne Moore in "The Hours". Actually, if I had to list 3 favourite female performances now, I'd mention Watson, Moore and Isabelle Huppert in "The Piano Teacher". Lars von Trier has a special talent to direct women: just remember Nicole Kidman's and Björk's remarkable performances in "Dogville" and "Dancer in the Dark", respectively.

    "Breaking the Waves" tells the story of the pure Bess McNeill (Watson) and her unconditional love for Jan Nyman (Stellan Skarsgård), who is paralyzed after an accident at the oil-rig he works in. Then, Jan convinces Bess to have sex with other men and tell him the details of the sexual encounters, so he won't "forget" how to do it. Bess is determined to make Jan happy and to prove to God that she loves him, but she soon loses control of her actions. The storyline might sound absurd, but Von Trier isn't a joker and he takes us into a devastating journey. Katrin Cartlidge (1961-2002), an extremely gifted actress ("Naked", "Before the Rain", "Claire Dolan", "Career Girls", "Topsy-Turvy" and "No Man's Land") who died too young, delivers a captivating, discreet supporting performance as Dodo, Bess' loving sister-in-law.

    I'd say "Breaking the Waves" and "Dogville" are opposite masterpieces: "Waves" being about love and goodness, "Dogville" being about hatred and evil, among other things, of course (nothing's easy or simple in Von Trier's universe). Both films are extremely dark and hard to watch, but "Waves" shows that Von Trier has faith in mankind. His detractors like to label him as a cynical atheist, but "Breaking the Waves" definitely proved me the opposite. Von Trier made a poignant epic about the struggle of an innocent, good-hearted woman who wants to do what God wants her to do (or, at least, what she thinks He wants her to do) and make her husband happy - even if she has to sacrifice herself for that. It's a leap of faith both for Bess and the watcher, who's got to decide if he's ready for such an experience. I wasn't disappointed at all. 10 out of 10.
    helpful•48
    15
    • Benedict_Cumberbatch
    • Mar 5, 2007

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    FAQ1

    • This is 1 of 3 movies in a series, Breaking The Waves, Dancer In The Dark, and which other?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 13, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Denmark
      • Sweden
      • France
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Iceland
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Contra viento y marea
    • Filming locations
      • Copenhagen, Denmark
    • Production companies
      • ARTE
      • Argus Film Produktie
      • Canal+
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,803,298
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,828,405
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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