An Eastern European US immigrant with a love for musicals has to cope with the gradual loss of her vision.An Eastern European US immigrant with a love for musicals has to cope with the gradual loss of her vision.An Eastern European US immigrant with a love for musicals has to cope with the gradual loss of her vision.
- Director
- Writers
- Lars von Trier
- Sjón(librettist)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Lars von Trier
- Sjón(librettist)
- Stars
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 35 wins & 49 nominations total
Videos1
Siobhan Fallon Hogan
- Brendaas Brenda
- (as Siobhan Fallon)
- Director
- Writers
- Lars von Trier
- Sjón(librettist)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
In small-town Washington state in 1964, Czechoslovakian immigrant Selma Jezková and her preteen son Gene live in a rented trailer owned by Bill and Linda Houston; Bill is the town sheriff. Selma also has a small group of friends, including her co-worker and primary confidante Kathy, and Jeff, who wants to be her boyfriend. Jeff regularly waits outside Selma's workplace to drive her home, although she always refuses, not wishing to lead him on. Her primary job is working on the Anderson Tool factory assembly line, but she does whatever else she can to earn money. What only Kathy knows among Selma's friends is that she is slowly going blind from a genetic medical condition. She can see just enough to be able to do her job. Her primary reason for moving to the USA and working all the time is to earn enough money for an operation for Gene when he turns 13; he knows nothing about his mother's or his own degenerative eyesight. Selma allows only one indulgence in her life: anything to do with musicals which she loves, because they're an escape from her bleak life. Kathy often takes her to the cinema to watch old musicals and must describe to her what's happening on the screen, to the other patrons' annoyance. Selma also has the role of Maria in a community-theatre production of "The Sound of Music." Close to having enough money for the operation, Selma races against time before she loses enough sight to lose her job and her role in the musical. What may also threaten Selma's goal of the operation for Gene is some financial problems facing Bill, who feels pressured to provide Linda with the comforts of life to which she's accustomed. —Huggo
- Taglines
- You don't need eyes to see.
- Genres
- Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for some violence
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaLars von Trier has said that each morning before filming, Björk would say "Mr. von Trier, I despise you," and spit at him.
- GoofsSelma's son's surname should be Jezek, not Jezková.
- Quotes
Lines on screen: They say it's the last song. They don't know us, you see. It's only the last song if we let it be.
- Alternate versionsThe film originally contained a song entitled "141 Steps"; however, after the Cannes premiere, director Lars von Trier decided to shorten it, and the song was subsequently reworked and retitled "107 Steps."
- SoundtracksOverture
Written by Björk
Arranged, Orchestrated & Conducted by Vincent Mendoza
Produced by Björk
Mixed by Mark Stent (as Mark "Spike" Stent)
Published by Universal Music
Top review
Most terifying film of I've ever seen.
This film is brutal, it's not violent, but it's so intense, so sad, so depressing, that I could barely watch it. If you want to cry this film is a must watch. The storyline is fantastic, the cinematography is "cheap" and that makes it artistic. The music was fantastic, sad, creepy, meaningful and it wasn't out of random like in most musicals, here it made sense to exist.
It's one of the best musicals I've ever seen, it's one of the best dramas I've ever seen. It is one of the best films I've ever seen.
It's one of the best musicals I've ever seen, it's one of the best dramas I've ever seen. It is one of the best films I've ever seen.
helpful•70
- Kdosda_Hegen
- Jul 26, 2020
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Bailarina en la oscuridad
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $12,800,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,184,036
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $91,612
- Sep 24, 2000
- Gross worldwide
- $40,061,153
- Runtime2 hours 20 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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