IMDb > Breaking the Waves (1996)
Breaking the Waves
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Breaking the Waves (1996) More at IMDbPro »

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Breaking the Waves -- 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.

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   33,606 votes »
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Director:
Lars von Trier
Writers:
Lars von Trier (written by)
Peter Asmussen (co-written by)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Breaking the Waves on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 November 1996 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Drama | Romance See more »
Tagline:
Love is a mighty power.
Plot:
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. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 43 wins & 17 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(156 articles)
Competition: Win tickets to the BFI's von Trier season
 (From CineVue. 17 May 2013, 6:59 AM, PDT)
'Nymphomaniac': First Poster for Shia Labeouf's Sex-Filled Movie
 (From Moviefone. 2 May 2013, 10:24 AM, PDT)
Giveaway - Win tickets to the Lars von Trier season at BFI Southbank
 (From Flickeringmyth. 24 April 2013, 11:57 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Incredible and Powerful Film See more (211 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Emily Watson ... Bess McNeill

Stellan Skarsgård ... Jan Nyman

Katrin Cartlidge ... Dodo McNeill

Jean-Marc Barr ... Terry

Adrian Rawlins ... Dr. Richardson
Jonathan Hackett ... Priest
Sandra Voe ... Mother

Udo Kier ... Sadistic Sailor
Mikkel Gaup ... Pits

Roef Ragas ... Pim
Phil McCall ... Grandfather
Robert Robertson ... Chairman
Desmond Reilly ... An Elder
Sarah Gudgeon ... Sybilla
Finlay Welsh ... Coroner (as Finley Welsh)
David Gallacher ... Glasgow Doctor
Ray Jeffries ... Man on Bus
Owen Kavanagh ... Man at Lighthouse
Bob Docherty ... Man on Boat

David Bateson ... Young Sailor
Callum Cuthbertson ... Radio Operator
Gavin Mitchell ... Police Officer 1
Brian Smith ... Police Officer 2
Iain Agnew ... Praying Man 1
Charles Kearney ... Praying Man 2
Steven Leach ... Praying Man 3
Dorte Rømer ... Nurse
Anthony J. O'Donnell ... Boy 1 (as Anthony O'Donnell)

John Wark ... Boy 2
Ronnie McKellaig ... Presenter
Peter Bensted ... Ugly Man (voice)
Simon Towler Jorfaid ... Boy in Film (voice)
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Directed by
Lars von Trier  (as Lars Von Trier)
 
Writing credits
Lars von Trier (written by) (as Lars Von Trier)

Peter Asmussen (co-written by)

David Pirie  uncredited

Produced by
Axel Helgeland .... co-producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen .... producer
Lars Jönsson .... executive producer
Rob Langestraat .... co-producer
Marianne Slot .... co-producer
Peter van Vogelpoel .... co-producer (as Peter Van Vogelpoel)
Vibeke Windeløv .... producer
 
Cinematography by
Robby Müller 
 
Film Editing by
Anders Refn 
 
Casting by
Joyce Nettles 
 
Production Design by
Karl Júlíusson (uncredited)
 
Costume Design by
Manon Rasmussen 
 
Makeup Department
Sanne Gravfort .... makeup artist
Dorota Horonska .... assistant makeup artist
Morten Jacobsen .... special makeup and surgical effects artist
Jennifer Jorfaid .... makeup artist (as Jennifer Jorfald)
 
Production Management
Tove Jystrup .... post-production supervisor
Leif Mohlin .... production manager
Lene Nielsen .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Morten Arnfred .... first assistant director
Kristoffer Nyholm .... second unit director
 
Art Department
Poul Erik Andersen .... carpenter
Jonas Alexander Arnby .... assistant props
Morten Constantineanu Bak .... graphic designer
Mogens Craner .... carpenter
Peter Grant .... property master
Simone Grau .... props (as Simone Grau Larsen)
Eva Gøttrup .... props trainee
Leo Jørgart .... construction manager
John Knight .... additional props: Scotland
Jørgen Krogh .... painter
Alistair Macgregor .... building constructor: Scotland
Nini Mandal .... props seamstress
René Pejl .... head painter
Søren Simonsen .... painter
Torben Skalleræk .... carpenter
Thomas Westi .... carpenter
Rasmus With .... assistant props
 
Sound Department
Kristian Eidnes Andersen .... supervising sound editor
Klas Baggström .... sound recordist: second unit
Lars Christensen .... recording engineer: "Siciliana"
Hans Møller .... dialogue editor
Julien Naudin .... foley artist
Peter Schultz .... sound effects editor
Ad Stoop .... boom operator
Per Streit .... sound designer
Per Streit .... sound recording mixer
 
Special Effects by
Lars Andersen .... special effects: Scotland
Birger Bohm .... special effects focus puller
Otto Stenov .... special effects gaffer
Jan Weincke .... special effects photographer
 
Visual Effects by
Søren Buus .... visual effects editor: manipulation
Niels Valentin Dal .... visual effects editor: manipulation
Steen Lyders Hansen .... visual effects editor: manipulation
Per Kirkeby .... digital artist: manipulation
 
Stunts
Terry Forrestal .... stunt coordinator: Scotland
Lasse Spang Olsen .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Leif Barney Fick .... gaffer
Per Heegaard .... photographer
Thomas Holm Deleurang .... assistant camera (as Thomas Holm)
Steve Holtson .... video assist operator
Henrik Jongdahl .... title photographer
Fredrik Kihl .... video assist operator
Rolf Konow .... still photographer
Eric Kress .... photographer: second unit
Jean-Paul Meurisse .... camera operator
Søren Johannes Meyer .... electrician
Christopher Porter .... gaffer
Per Fredrik Sköld .... assistant camera (as Per Fredrik Skiöld)
Mads Thomsen .... focus puller: second unit
Pim Tjujerman .... focus puller
Morten Ziersen .... video assist operator
 
Casting Department
Anne Campbell .... extras casting: Scotland
Rie Hedegaard .... casting: Denmark
Ruth Tarko .... additional casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Binkie Darling .... costumes: Scotland
Anne-Marie Gudnitz .... costume assistant
 
Editorial Department
Anders Johannes Bukh .... assistant editor
Yann Dedet .... trailer editor
Patrick Dreyfus .... color timer: video
Olivier Fontenay .... color timer: film
Niklas Hansen .... trailer editor
Marianne Jerris .... negative cutter
Tine Grew Pfeiffer .... post-production assistant
Lars Wodschow .... trailer editor
 
Music Department
Carl-Ulrik Munch Andersen .... musician: organ
Ulrik Corlin .... musician
Jan Harboe .... musician
Tom Harboe .... consultant: Scottish music
Tom Harboe .... musician
Joachim Holbek .... music arranger
Joachim Holbek .... orchestrator
Christian Steenstrup .... musician: trumpet
Mark Warrick .... music producer: Pollyanna
Ray Williams .... executive music producer
Ulrik Corlin .... music arranger (uncredited)
Jan Harboe .... music arranger (uncredited)
Tom Harboe .... music arranger (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Frank Weinberger .... driver: bus
 
Other crew
Anna Anthony .... assistant: Mr. Jönsson
Kirsten Bonnén Rask .... script consultant
Douglas Brand .... rig worker: Montrose, Scotland
Stephen Burt .... runner: Scotland
Louise Cross .... assistant: Joyce Nettles
Linda Daae .... continuity
Anthony Dod Mantle .... location scout: Scotland
Tony English .... rig worker: Montrose, Scotland
Charlotte Giannetta .... caterer
Tómas Gislason .... script consultant
John Goodwin .... runner
Christel Hammer .... public relations
Jens Georg Hansen .... insurance services: Sedgwick
Else Hartzberg .... consultant: folk dance
Rasmus Heisterberg .... runner
Casper Holm .... production assistant
Henrik Jongdahl .... title designer
Morten Kleener .... location manager
Peter Øvig Knudsen .... location scout: Scotland (as Peter Ovig Knudson)
Ann Køj .... production accountant (as Ann Koj Slemming)
Christina Mackay .... church consultant
Christine MacLean .... production consultant: Scotland (as Christine Maclean)
Elspeth MacNaughton .... dialogue coach (as Elspeth Macnaughton)
Nanna Mailand-Hansen .... production assistant
Damien Maurel .... digital video consultant
Ghita Norrekjær .... production accountant
Hanne Palmquist .... public relations
Charlotte Pedersen .... assistant to producers
Tine Grew Pfeiffer .... production assistant
Peter Raeburn .... assistant: Ray Williams
Ricki Rasmussen .... runner: Scotland
Niels Reiermann .... trainee (as Niels Reierman)
Janet Riddoch .... location manager: Scotland
William Ryan .... rig worker: Montrose, Scotland
Nynne Selin .... public relations assistant
Birgitte Skov .... trainee
Jonathan Sydenham .... script translator
Charlotte Vinther .... financial controller
Ann Vognsen .... production accountant
Glenn Weinold .... runner: Scotland
Grethe Wejlgaard .... medical consultant
David Wilder .... completion bond: Film Finances
 
Thanks
Shirley Clarke .... thanks: Sony Music
Charlie Lowry Henderson .... dedicatee
Simon Platz .... thanks: Bucks Music
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
MPAA:
Rated R for strong graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some violence
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
159 min | USA:153 min (director's cut)
Country:
Spain | Denmark | Sweden | France | Netherlands | Norway | Iceland
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
Australia:R | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Denmark:12 | Finland:K-14 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:III | Hungary:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Argentina:16 | Israel:18 | Iceland:16 | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | Peru:18
Filming Locations:
Copenhagen, DenmarkSee more »
Company:
Argus Film ProduktieSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Helena Bonham Carter was originally cast in the role of Bess.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: (at around 7 mins) When Bess is in bed with her sister-in-law, the blanket is on, then off, Bess' shoulder.See more »
Quotes:
Bess McNeill:We Think he will be completely paralyzed. But he'll live.See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Best of '96" (1997)See more »
Soundtrack:
A Whiter Shade Of PaleSee more »

FAQ

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
70 out of 82 people found the following review useful.
Incredible and Powerful Film, 15 August 2003
Author: gbheron from Washington, DC

Initially, this story about the marriage of young Scottish woman and a Scandinavian oil rig worker had my eyes glazing over. I was ready to hit the eject button about 20 minutes into the movie. But I held in there and slowly was drawn in to their lives, their environment, and the ghastly tragedy that confronts them.

Lars von Trier is a very patient storyteller, as well as being an eccentric movie maker. In Breaking the Waves, he slowly, very slowly unfolds his drama. The problem is; you have to pay careful attention, and this can be difficult. Von Trier's style, with its hand-held camera, lack of artificial lighting, grainy photography, and lingering close-ups can try the patience. The movie is also long, clocking in at about 2½ hours. But if you see it through, the final half hour will blow your mind, and you will have seen one of the best (and most emotionally powerful) movies of 1996, maybe even the whole decade.

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See more (211 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Breaking the Waves (1996)
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An Absolute Nihilistic Garbage inbar_sh
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Most overrated films peterrichard30
Can anybody identify the religion....? chesneym
'I love you, Bess!' denham
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