- published: 07 May 2016
- views: 1287
Breaking the Waves is a 1996 film directed by Lars von Trier and starring Emily Watson. Set in the Scottish Highlands in the early 1970s, it is about an unusual young woman, Bess McNeill, and of the love she has for Jan, her husband. The film is an international co-production led by von Trier's Danish company Zentropa. It is the first film in Trier's 'Golden Heart Trilogy' which also includes The Idiots (1998) and Dancer in the Dark (2000).
Breaking the Waves tells the story of Bess McNeill, a pretty young Scottish woman with a history of psychological problems. She marries Norwegian oil rig worker Jan, despite the apprehensions of her community and Calvinist church.
Bess is somewhat simple and childlike in her beliefs. During her regular visits to the church, she prays to God and believes God answers through her using her voice.
Bess has difficulty living without Jan when he is away on the oil platform. Jan makes occasional phone calls to Bess in which they express their love and sexual desires. Bess grows impatient and prays for his immediate return. The next day, Jan is paralysed from an industrial accident and is flown back to the mainland. Bess believes her prayer was the reason the accident occurred.
Drama set in a repressed, deeply religious community in the north of Scotland, where a naive young woman named Bess McNeil meets and falls in love with Danish oil-rig worker Jan. Bess and Jan are deeply in love but, when Jan returns to his rig, Bess prays to God that he returns for good. Jan does return, his neck broken in an accident aboard the rig. Because of his condition, Jan and Bess are now unable to enjoy a sexual relationship and Jan urges Bess to take another lover and tell him the details. As Bess becomes more and more deviant in her sexual behavior, the more she comes to believe that her actions are guided by God and are helping Jan recover.
Keywords: accident, bigotry, bliss, christ-figure, coast, coroner, cripple, crippled, damnation, death
The Minister: We do not need bells in our church to worship God.
The Minister: I would say to you that if there is one of these commandments you do not love and do not obey, you have no business at the Lord's table.
The Minister: Can you tell me about anything of real value that the outsiders have brought with them?::Bess McNeill: Uh... their music?
Bess McNeill: Everyone has something they're good at. I've always been stupid, but I'm good at this.
Bess McNeill: Everyone has one thing they're good at. I've always been stupid, but I'm good at this.
Dodo McNeill: Not one of you has the right to consign Bess to hell!
Jan Nyman: [he writes in a paper] Let me die. I'm evil in head!::Jan Nyman: I love you no matter what is in your head!
Bess McNeill: I don't make love with them, I make love with Jan and I save him from dying.
Bess McNeill: We Think he will be completely paralyzed. But he'll live.
I light a candle for those i have lost
I never tought it will happen so fast
Sound of your laugh is still in my mind
Pitcture of you will never fade out
It will be here - deep in my heart
When i hear your name
It all comes back
Things of the past
Slips in my mind
I light a candle for those i have lost
I never tought it will happen so fast
Sometimes its hard
But that is my task
When i hear your name
It all comes back
Things of the past
Slips in my mind
So I reach for a bottle
And drink it till the botoom
One or few more its not a problem
But maybe I have problems
With candles and bottles?
Or its price
To sleep in complete silance
I light a candle for good friends I have lost
I light a candle for family I have lost
Time that we shared wasn't enough
We'll meet again, that is for sure
Sooner or later? Thats a good question
I light a candle for those i have lost
I took off my mask
That covered my eyes
Now you can see
Whats going inside
I fill up my empty glass
And look in the sky
Cheers to everyone
Hope you all are fine
I light a candle for good friends I have lost
I light a candle for family I have lost
I light a candle for good friends I have lost
I light a candle for family I have lost
I light a candle for good friends I have lost
I light a candle for family I have lost
I light a candle for good friends I have lost