Dancer in the Dark

Plot

An east European girl goes to America with her young son, expecting it to be like a Hollywood film.

Release Year: 2000

Rating: 7.9/10 (45,925 voted)

Critic's Score: 61/100

Director:
Lars von Trier

Stars: Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse

Storyline
Selma has emigrated with her son from Central Europe to America. The year is 1964. Selma works day and night to save her son from the same disease she suffers from, a disease that inevitably will make her blind. But Selma has the energy to live because of her secret! She loves musicals. When life feels tough she can pretend that she is in the wonderful world of musicals…just for a short moment. All happiness life is not able to give her she finds there…

Cast:

Björk
–

Selma Jezkova

Catherine Deneuve
–

Kathy

David Morse
–

Bill Houston

Peter Stormare
–

Jeff

Joel Grey
–

Oldrich Novy

Cara Seymour
–

Linda Houston

Vladica Kostic
–

Gene Jezkova

Jean-Marc Barr
–

Norman

Vincent Paterson
–

Samuel

Siobhan Fallon
–

Brenda

Zeljko Ivanek
–

District Attorney

Udo Kier
–

Dr. Porkorny

Jens Albinus
–

Morty

Reathel Bean
–

Judge

Mette Berggreen
–

Receptionist

Taglines:
You don't need eyes to see.

Details

Official Website:
Fine Line |

Release Date: 6 October 2000

Filming Locations: Arlington, Washington, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $12,800,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $103,102
(Denmark)
(10 September 2000)
(49 Screens)

Gross: $40,031,879
(Worldwide)
(18 July 2001)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Stellan Skarsgård was originally cast in the role of Jeff, Selma's would-be boyfriend, but was unable to play a part as large as that due to a scheduling conflict (with
Aberdeen). The part of Jeff went instead to Peter Stormare, and Skarsgård ended up playing the substantially smaller (only two scenes) role of Selma's eye doctor.

Goofs:

Continuity:
When Bill tells Selma he has no money, Selma's hair repeatedly switches from being over her ears, to being tucked behind them.

Quotes:

Selma:
There's no more to see…

User Review

Hardcore horror movie

Rating: 10/10

This is the most horrifying movie I've seen (gave it 10, though). I had the
sensation that I was witnessing somebody die – and like Selma in the movie,
I just begged for another musical-show to begin… I couldn't stand it.
Everything is so tormenting and you just need that last (but not last!?)
dance… Bjork is stunning as Selma, and the music she has composed blew me
away. Even though this is perhaps the movie that has left the strongest
impression with me ever, I don't know when I will be able watch it again.