Breaking the Waves poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr, Adrian Rawlins ... see more see more... , Sandra Voe , Mikal Gaup , Udo Kier , Phil McCall , Anthony O'Donnell , Gavin Mitchell , David Gallacher , Ray Jeffries , Roef Ragas , Finlay Welsh , Charles Kearney , Robert Robertson , Sarah Gudgeon , Brian Smith , Iain Agnew , David Bateson , Peter Bensted , Callum Cuthbertson , Bob Docherty , Simon Towler Jorfald , Owen Kavanagh , Steven Leach , Ronnie McKellaig , Desmond Reilly , Dorte Rømer , John Wark , Jonathan Hackett

With Breaking The Waves, director Lars von Trier fashions an often disturbing tale of the singular power of love. Bess (the Oscar-nominated Emily Watson) is a naïve, borderline simple young woman who ... read more read more...lives in a Scottish coastal town ruled by the religious doctrine of its council of elders. Recovering from a mental breakdown caused by the death of her brother, Bess marries a rough yet compassionate and attentive oil rig worker named Jan (Stellan Skarsgård). For a brief time, the couple enjoys peaceful wedded bliss, with the worldly Jan introducing Bess to the mysteries of sex. Jan must soon return to his job on the rig, however, where he is paralyzed from the neck down in a freak accident. Bess' emotional trauma over Jan's injury turns into obsession as she prays to God for his recovery and offers to do anything to have her husband back whole. Jan, constantly medicated and profoundly depressed, asks Bess to have sex with other men and tell him about it, thinking this will allow her to return to a normal life. Bess, on the other hand, sees it as an expression of her devotion to Jan that even God won't be able to ignore. Bess's resultant downward spiral leads to a finale of both tragedy and spirituality. Breaking the Waves is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive European movies of the 1990s, marking von Trier's movement toward his influential Dogma 95 school of filmmaking, which emphasizes realistic situations of contemporary life, filmed without background music and with a hand-held, restlessly moving camera. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

Flixster Users

90% liked it

29,289 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

43 critics

R, 2 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: Lars von Trier

Release Date: November 29, 1996

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: July 26, 2005

Stats: 1,565 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves Stellan Skarsgård Breaking the Waves Breaking the Waves Bess2 Breaking the Waves Breaking the Waves Breaking the Waves Bess3
Upload a Photo | View All Breaking the Waves Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (1,565)

  • fb1664868775
    March 1, 2012
    fb1664868775
    A disturbing yet beautiful film. Von Trier's masterpiece and the best use of a Rod Stewart song in a movie.
  • MrMarakai
    February 21, 2012
    MrMarakai
    This was controversial Danish director Lars Von Trier's first film in English and also the first in his "Golden Hearts" trilogy in which the heroines remain naive despite their actions. The two other parts are "The Idiots" and "Dancer in the Dark" but this is the strongest of the... read more three.
    Bess (Emily Watson) is a devout, church going, innocent young woman living in a remote Scottish village in the 1970's. She possesses a real sweetness, warmth and affection but she's also not right in the head. She marries oil rig worker Jan (Stellan Skarsgard) and is unable to bear separation from him when he leaves for work. When he is brought back from the rig paralysed after an accident, her obsession adds to his despair. They arrive at a bizarre arrangement; he urges her to take a lover, for his own sexual gratification and she interprets this as a spiritual mission.
    Von Trier shoots in a grainy, almost documentary like style (with help from respected cinematographer Robby Muller) adding to the realism of his story and his characters. Emily Watson (in her debut) is commanding throughout with a marvellous and brave performance. Her physical and mental struggle is tragically and achingly portrayed. Von Trier's films tend not to be easy viewing, or the treatment of his female characters, for that matter. Just look at the aforementioned films, as well as, "Dogville" and "AntiChrist". This is no exception and any actress taking on a role in his films needs to be committed. Watson certainly is here and commands the screen entirely. The only downside that the film suffers from, is it's length. After the two hour mark, and another half hour to go, it overstays it's welcome. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem but the subject matter is so depressing that it becomes an exhausting experience.
    Not to everyone's tastes but if your a fan of Von Trier, then it's essential viewing. But, as always, with the provocative director, it doesn't paint a pretty picture.
  • moonrivers
    September 7, 2011
    moonrivers
    Breathtaking and heartbreaking, here is a unusual story about a small town woman, thought slow, simple and stupid by her peers, her unbelievably monumental faith in God ... and the bittersweet price for that faith. Not for the faint of heart.
  • axadntpron
    April 6, 2011
    axadntpron
    An incredibly powerful film. While not as vulgar as Antichrist, don't expect to feel comfortable while watching this film. The Cinema-và (C)rità (C) style of this film gives this movie a realistic touch which makes the subject matter all the more troubling to handle. Yet, if you ... read morecan brave the intense exploration into religion and sex, you will find a beautifully constructed film that will not leave you unchanged.
  • ythelastman89
    March 7, 2011
    ythelastman89
    Call Lars Von Trier a misogynistic pig if you want, but he makes some of the most interesting movies about relationships, religion, sex and just about everything else. This is presented in beautiful 35mm stock in order to get that home movie look that is perfect for all the close... read more ups and hand held tactics. While this certainly is a great looking movie, it is not without incredible performances and unforgettable characters. Both Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgard convince us in less than 10 minutes that they are truly and deeply in love, which is no easy feat. Then, they manage to give so much emotion and physicality (well, not Skarsgard obviously) to their respecting roles that the tragedy/love epic is as effective as intended. Von Trier's understanding of what it takes to capture a powerful performance while also keeping in mind the visual aesthetics is unmatched. It's as if everything was so meticulously casual that it becomes almost ridiculous to try and fathom how he gets some of the shots he does. I love the way this plays around with faith and religion. It manages to give criticism, but at the same time respect people's beliefs. Von Trier's work is so stylized and particular that I can see why he has his critics, but at the same time it's easy to see why so many people worship him.
  • wildaly14
    January 29, 2011
    wildaly14
    This was definitely a mesmerizing experience. The film is about so many things but what stood out most to me was the religious subject matter. There's definitely a lot that can be said, little that I agree with and a lot that could make you feel just depressed/disgusted about the... read more whole thing. In conclusion... definitely worth watching.
  • SirPant
    September 2, 2009
    SirPant
    Probably the most underrated, overlooked and misunderstood film of all time. Don't let the awful American poster put you off either, because this is without a doubt the most beautiful film made in the last 25 years. Its subject matter, pace and Dogma style puts many people off, a... read morend to be fair it not everybodies cup of tea, but give it a chance. The last scene, in my opinion, is the best ever in the history of Cinema, a bold statement I know by I stand by it! Brilliant!
  • DrBenway
    January 7, 2009
    DrBenway
    Although the cover of the dvd looks like something Richard Gere may star in, make no mistake...Lars von Trier has made a great film with stunning performances and dramatic intensity. In addition to its' message about sacrificial love, Breaking the Waves reveals the contrast betwe... read moreen the repression of some types of religion and the individual spirituality.

    A simple summary doesn't really give you a feel for it. You have to feel the motivations through the Watson character, and you have to feel with her that she is always trying to do the right thing, out of love. She somehow pulls that off and allows you to understand her completely, becoming vulnerable in every way.

    Holy shit, this is a heavy film.
    Photobucket
  • kiriyamakazou
    November 6, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    The Von Trier way of film making is always fascinating, usually not only due to the stories he has to tell but also the way he tells them. Breaking the Waves is simple compared to his other works (Dogville, Dancer in the Dark) but all the better for it. Watson plays a highly reli... read moregious and very naive young woman who enters a marriage. She is a simple woman who may or may not talk directly to God. Everything is handled brilliantly from the heart warming marriage to the sweet awkwardness of the sexual encounters. As Watson becomes selfish in her love the film becomes darker but this just allows for a more beautiful ending. The fantastically grainy look really makes it seem like a slice of real life. Characters aren't quirky and there is a severe lack of happiness. The setting on a religiously strict island adds to the tension and fight within Bess as she fights for a love of God and her man but also the love she wishes to feel herself.
  • ceWEBrity
    October 4, 2008
    ceWEBrity
    I don't really feel like giving this film much credit, but for all its hatefulness and misogyny and its impossibly warped view of the world, it does have a few strengths. Emily Watson's performance is one of them; it's nice to think that her Oscar nomination is appropriate reward... read more for the dignity she sacrificed here, weeping hysterically in every other scene and having eerie channeled dialogues with God in others. It is to her tremendous credit that she pulls them off, but again, this role is absolutely degrading. Bess is merely a conduit for Lars von Trier's inflamed "torturing good-hearted women" fetish. There's nothing to show for this movie except for the systematic destruction of a naive, slightly unbalanced woman and everything she loves.

    For a movie to have depth, it must first say something, and Breaking the Waves simply doesn't. The most you could probably ascribe to it is as a dialectic on Christianity, but the movie spins so far off its axis that it's completely ineffective for this purpose. If religion is futile, how do you explain Bess' sacrifice and the resulting consequence? The final few seconds of the movie? You can take it a step further and hone it into a faith vs. organized religion argument, but Bess is unironically colored as insane for the faith she exhibits. The movie is just looking for excuses to kick her while she's down and trying to make it seem purposeful.

    On an ideological basis, I'd have given this movie only one star. It is well-made and reasonably gripping on a narrative level, but only in the way that you can't turn away from a train wreck. Emily Watson's performance earns it another. If this movie doesn't imprint her name on the mind of any cinephile, nothing will. Past that, Breaking the Waves' value ends.

    Perhaps the greatest irony of all in the film is that the license plate on Bess' moped says "LOL."

View All Breaking the Waves Reviews

Critic Reviews

Rob Nelson
September 1, 2009
Rob Nelson, City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

Von Trier may put his characters and the viewer through the ringer, yet his empathy toward both is unmistakable. Full Review

Cole Smithey
August 30, 2009
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Here is a film that makes you feel like you've read the novel, seen the movie, and lived the life of a protagonist more empathetic than any other. You just might need a stiff drink afterward. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
September 6, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A powerful tear-jerker romantic drama that intriguingly also brings religion into the mix. Full Review

Michael Dequina
September 15, 2005
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

The synopsis doesn't begin to do justice to the psychological and emotional complexities of the tale. Full Review

Jeffrey Overstreet
December 6, 2004
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer

The actors are superb. [But] it is the easiest thing in the world to do ... move people by destroying something beautiful.

Jon Niccum
December 6, 2004
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

Unforgettable

Judith Egerton
July 1, 2004
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

Will introduce the experimental director to a wider American audience. Full Review

Dan Lybarger
October 27, 2003
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online

Watson's mesmerising performance propels this sad but weirdly uplifting look at sex, spirituality and guilt.

Ken Hanke
September 18, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Well done, but so incredibly depressing that it's not entertaining.

Jeffrey M. Anderson
April 15, 2003
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner

Brutal and passionate.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Antichrist
    Antichrist (97%)
  • Dancer in the Dark
    Dancer in the Dark (91%)
  • The Apostle
    The Apostle (50%)
  • Dogville
    Dogville (81%)

More Movies like Breaking the Waves

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Breaking the Wave... : Watch Free on TV

Breaking the Waves Trivia

  • 'Breaking the Waves' takes place in Scotland. It's about a strange girl, her relationship with God, and how she tries to cure her husband's paralysis. It stars this actress in her stunning film debut.   Answer »
  • Name the movie that garnered Emily Watson's first Oscar nomination.  Answer »
  • What actor plays in the following films: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Breaking the Waves Good Will Hunting Exorcist: The Beginning  Answer »
  • A girl gets married to a foreigner who gets severely injured. He ends up in a hospital and she tries to save him with a bit of sexual healing.  Answer »
More Breaking the Waves Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Breaking the Waves. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Breaking the Waves Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Breaking the Waves to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?