Breaking the Waves
"An Amazing Film Of Oceanic Power!" -Chicago Tribune
When Bess, a naïve young woman, marries Jan, a handsome oil-rig worker, she experiences passion and physical pleasure that she never imagined. Their bliss is cut short when an accident on the rig leaves Jan paralyzed. Believing he will never make love to Bess again, he tells her to take other lovers, convincing her that this will help his recovery. Bess is sent spiraling into a world of dark emotions she cannot understand.
Remarkable performances by Emily Watson, Katrin Cartlidge and Stellan Skarsgard leave an incredible impression on your heart.
Member Reviews
A Great Film, Though not for Everyone - NedRacine
This is one of my favorite moves of all time. A film about belief in God but for the non-believer. A movie about Bess McNeill (played perfectly by Emily Watson), a simple, child-like young woman who truly believes that she can talk to God, and that he will, on occasion, respond. Recently married and deeply missing her husband, who works many days at a time on an off-shore oil platform, she prays for his immediate return. He soon returns but paralyzed by a workplace accident. Feeling that she is responsible for his accident she asks again for God's guidance. So strongly does she believe in her communion with God that she is lead to do anything she thinks he wants. If His word is "honor thy husband", then honor she does, to an unbearable degree, in the hope of making her husband well again. Bess sinks deeper and deeper into disturbing situation, all the wile believing what she is doing is the will of God. This is not an easy film to watch, but those that stay with it are rewarded with one of the most memorable endings in all of film.intense - pomplemousse
After watching this movie I seriously had to take a breather and go do something lighthearted. The happy couple slowly (emphasis on slowly, it does take a while to build, though not in a boring way) morphs into a diabolical and deviant relationship as Yann asks Bess to carry out certain unhealthy fantasies with others while he is bedridden. This film is graphic and intense, though enjoyable in a sick sort of way.Powerful movie, but much too long - Poet
This one really starts slow but, after the character of Jan finds himself in the hospital after his accident, it starts to pick up a bit. Before that, it is basically character buildup...and very slow buildup at that.
This movie is great, the acting was awesome. As far as Emily Watson goes, I truly believed that she was that girl. And, that is basically all you can ask for from an actor or actress.
Only complaint on my part is the length of the movie; 2 hours and 38 minutes being much too long. This story could have been told much more effectively with a trimmed down movie. Then again, who am I to talk about effectivement when we talk about art.
Anyways, if you have a couple of hours and then some ahead of you, and your brain feels up to the task of following this movie, go for it. It is well worth a watch, at least once in your life.
Member Reviews
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A Great Film, Though not for Everyone - NedRacine
This is one of my favorite moves of all time. A film about belief in God but for the non-believer. A movie about Bess McNeill (played perfectly by Emily Watson), a simple, child-like young woman who truly believes that she can talk to God, and that he will, ...intense - pomplemousse
After watching this movie I seriously had to take a breather and go do something lighthearted. The happy couple slowly (emphasis on slowly, it does take a while to build, though not in a boring way) morphs into a diabolical and deviant relationship as Yann ...Powerful movie, but much too long - Poet
This one really starts slow but, after the character of Jan finds himself in the hospital after his accident, it starts to pick up a bit. Before that, it is basically character buildup...and very slow buildup at that.
This movie is great, the acting ...