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Dancer in the Dark

  • 20002000
  • RR
  • 2h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
109K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,771
490
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Trailer
Play trailer2:34
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Musical

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.

IMDb RATING
7.9/10
109K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,771
490
  • Director
    • Lars von Trier
  • Writers
    • Lars von Trier
    • Sjón(librettist)
  • Stars
    • Björk
    • Catherine Deneuve
    • David Morse
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lars von Trier
  • Writers
    • Lars von Trier
    • Sjón(librettist)
  • Stars
    • Björk
    • Catherine Deneuve
    • David Morse
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 747User reviews
    • 134Critic reviews
    • 61Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 35 wins & 49 nominations total

    Videos1

    Dancer in the Dark
    Trailer 2:34
    Dancer in the Dark

    Photos139

    Björk in Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Björk in Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Lars von Trier in Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Catherine Deneuve and Björk in Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Björk in Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    David Morse and Peter Stormare in Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Catherine Deneuve in Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Björk in Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Björk at an event for Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Björk at an event for Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Björk at an event for Dancer in the Dark (2000)
    Björk at an event for Dancer in the Dark (2000)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Björk
    Björk
    • Selma Jezkovaas Selma Jezkova
    Catherine Deneuve
    Catherine Deneuve
    • Kathyas Kathy
    David Morse
    David Morse
    • Bill Houstonas Bill Houston
    Peter Stormare
    Peter Stormare
    • Jeffas Jeff
    Joel Grey
    Joel Grey
    • Oldrich Novyas Oldrich Novy
    Cara Seymour
    Cara Seymour
    • Linda Houstonas Linda Houston
    Vladica Kostic
    • Gene Jezkovaas Gene Jezkova
    Jean-Marc Barr
    Jean-Marc Barr
    • Normanas Norman
    Vincent Paterson
    Vincent Paterson
    • Samuelas Samuel
    Siobhan Fallon Hogan
    Siobhan Fallon Hogan
    • Brendaas Brenda
    • (as Siobhan Fallon)
    Zeljko Ivanek
    Zeljko Ivanek
    • District Attorneyas District Attorney
    Udo Kier
    Udo Kier
    • Dr. Porkornyas Dr. Porkorny
    Jens Albinus
    Jens Albinus
    • Mortyas Morty
    Reathel Bean
    • Judgeas Judge
    Mette Berggreen
    • Receptionistas Receptionist
    Lars Michael Dinesen
    • Defense Attorneyas Defense Attorney…
    Katrine Falkenberg
    • Suzanas Suzan…
    Michael Flessas
    • Angry Manas Angry Man
    • Director
      • Lars von Trier
    • Writers
      • Lars von Trier
      • Sjón(librettist)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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
    • singing
    • factory
    • czech immigrant
    • tragedy
    • daydream
    • 46 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You don't need eyes to see.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Musical
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for some violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lars von Trier has said that each morning before filming, Björk would say "Mr. von Trier, I despise you," and spit at him.
    • Goofs
      Selma'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 versions
      The 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."
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Mission: Impossible II/Running Free/Passion of Mind/Big Momma's House (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Overture
      Written by Björk

      Arranged, Orchestrated & Conducted by Vincent Mendoza

      Produced by Björk

      Mixed by Mark Stent (as Mark "Spike" Stent)

      Published by Universal Music

    User reviews747

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    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.
    helpful•7
    0
    • Kdosda_Hegen
    • Jul 26, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 6, 2000 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Denmark
      • Germany
      • Netherlands
      • Italy
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • Sweden
      • Finland
      • Iceland
      • Norway
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Czech
    • Also known as
      • Bailarina en la oscuridad
    • Filming locations
      • Filmbyen, Avedøre, Sjælland, Denmark
    • Production companies
      • Zentropa Entertainments
      • Trust Film Svenska
      • Film i Väst
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • 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
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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