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Breaking the Waves (1996)
- Information at Internet
Movie Database
-
Looking Closer, review by Jeffrey Overstreet, "searching for truth, beauty
and meaning in the movies."
- Themes
- David
- Coming out of Jan and Bess's wedding, one of Jan's
friends looks to one of the church's elders and asks why they aren't
ringing the bells. The reply: This church doesn't have bells. [A
line to remember when you get to the end of the movie, BTW]. The
wedding reception is an interesting contrast between the celebration
that we expect to go with a wedding, and the dour, lifelessness of
the church folk. One of the reasons I'm so enthralled with this film
is that it makes the church look so solemn and lifeless (and
graceless, tto, for that matter). I know the church isn't anywhere
near as bad as it's portrayed, but often, it's only a matter of
degree -- and that hurts. David dancing before the ark gives us a
glimpse at what it means to be in God's presence and to understand
what it means to be in covenant with one so gracious as to be in
covenant with us. (submitted by Darrel
Manson, Artesia CA)
- Female Christ Figures, Crucifixion
- The director of Breaking the Waves, Lars Von
Trier, intentionally created a Christ figure in Bess. In a culture
in which a shameful death - as in a 1st century crucifixion - has
little meaning, he found a way to portray an innocent, intentionally
enduring suffering and death, in order to save the one she
loves. (submitted by Anita Milne, Leechburg, PA)
- Love, Grace, Judgment
- Father
Andrew M Greeley's "Homily" for the Fourth Sunday in
Lent (March 9, 1997) draws from Lars Von Triers Cannes prize winning
film "Breaking the Waves" in connection with John 3:14-21.
He quotes Roger Ebert's comment on the film: "God not only
knows everything, but he understands a lot better than we give him
credit for." (submitted by R.J. Stohler)
- What if your Faithful love to your signifant other led
you to become sexually unfaithful? Faith that is ready to sacrifice
EVERYTHING for the wellbeing of the loved one. Is this love or an
obsession?...
- Prayer
- There are fascinating scene in which Bess carries
on conversations with God. Bess talks, and then God talks through
Bess's voice. God scolds her, God comforts her. Is she crazy, is she
projecting, or is that really God talking? (submitted by Darrel
Manson, Artesia CA)
- Sacrificial Death
- Bess goes to a ship none of the prostitutes will go
to, knowing that the men there are extremely violent and they are
angry with her. It will be bad and is, but by her death Jan is
healed. (submitted by Darrel Manson, Artesia CA)
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