Dancer in the Dark (2000)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writer:

Lars von Trier (written by)

Release Date:

6 October 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

You don't need eyes to see.

Plot:

An east European girl goes to America with her young son, expecting it to be like a Hollywood film.

Plot Keywords:

Secret | Money | Blind | Loss Of Eyesight | Factory Worker

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 21 wins & 33 nominations

Cast

Björk	...	Selma Jezkova
Catherine Deneuve	...	Kathy
David Morse	...	Bill Houston
Peter Stormare	...	Jeff
Joel Grey	...	Oldrich Novy
Cara Seymour	...	Linda Houston
Vladica Kostic	...	Gene Jezkova
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Norman
Vincent Paterson	...	Samuel
Siobhan Fallon	...	Brenda
Zeljko Ivanek	...	District Attorney
Udo Kier	...	Dr. Porkorny
Jens Albinus	...	Morty
Reathel Bean	...	Judge
Mette Berggreen	...	Receptionist
Lars Michael Dinesen	...	Defense Attorney / Dancer
Katrine Falkenberg	...	Suzan / Dancer
Michael Flessas	...	Angry Man
John Randolph Jones	...	Detective
Noah Lazarus	...	Officer of the Court / Dancer
Sheldon Litt	...	Visitor
Andrew Lucre	...	Clerk of Court / Dancer
John Martinus	...	Chairman / Dancer
Luke Reilly	...	New Defense Council
T.J. Rizzo	...	Boris / Dancer (as TJ Rizzo)
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Doctor
Sean-Michael Smith	...	Person in Doorway (as Sean Michael Smith)
Paprika Steen	...	Woman on Night Shift
Eric Voge	...	Officer
Nick Wolf	...	Man with Hood
Timm Zimmermann	...	Guard / Dancer
Al Agami	...	Dancer
Alex Mouro	...	Dancer
Alexander Arli	...	Dancer
Allan Gyldenkærne	...	Dancer
Ami Eklöf-Annell	...	Dancer
Ana Christine Broström	...	Dancer
Anders Tärneberg	...	Dancer
Anders Thorhauge	...	Dancer
Anders-Peter Torsleff Hansen	...	Dancer
Ann Crosset	...	Dancer
Anna David	...	Dancer
Anna Norberg	...	Dancer
Anna Rosenberg	...	Dancer
Annette Lindholm	...	Dancer
Anthony Ajoise Olufemi Jacob	...	Dancer
Birgitte Skands	...	Dancer
Bjorn Ahlander	...	Dancer
Bo Westerholm	...	Dancer
Bobo Eriksson	...	Dancer
Britt Bendixen	...	Dancer
Carl Johan De Neergaard	...	Dancer
Carol Linda Nielsen	...	Dancer
Claus Berenhard	...	Dancer
Cristian Valle	...	Dancer
Diana G.L. Watson	...	Dancer
Ed Hickok	...	Dancer
Edvin Karsson	...	Dancer
Eli Stalhand	...	Dancer
Elin Johansson	...	Dancer
Emilie Bendz	...	Dancer
Erik Dammann	...	Dancer
Erik Drugge	...	Dancer
Fredrik Börgesson	...	Dancer
Frederik Mondrup	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marianne Bengtsson	...	Dancer
Troels Asmussen	...	Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Lars von Trier		(as Lars Von Trier)

Writing credits
Lars von Trier		(written by) (as Lars Von Trier)

Produced by
Malte Forsell	....	line producer (as Malte Forssell)
Friðrik Þór Friðriksson	....	associate producer (as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson)
Finn Gjerdrum	....	associate producer
Mogens Glad	....	associate producer
Anja Grafers	....	associate producer
Tony Grob	....	line producer: USA
Torleif Hauge	....	associate producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen	....	executive producer
Lars Jönsson	....	co-executive producer
Tero Kaukomaa	....	associate producer
Poul Erik Lindeborg	....	associate producer
Leo Pescarolo	....	collaborating producer
Marianne Slot	....	co-executive producer
Els Vandevorst	....	associate producer
Vibeke Windeløv	....	producer

Original Music by
Björk		(music composed by)

Cinematography by
Robby Müller		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
François Gédigier		(as François Gedigier)
Molly Marlene Stensgård		(as Molly Marlene Stensgaard)

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Karl Júlíusson		(as Karl Juliusson)

Art Direction by
Peter Grant

Costume Design by
Manon Rasmussen

Makeup Department
Michelle Crane	....	key hair stylist: second unit (as Michelle Ahern)
Michelle Crane	....	key makeup artist: second unit (as Michelle Ahern)
Cédric Gérard	....	makeup artist: Catherine Deneuve
Sanne Gravfort	....	makeup artist
Morten Jacobsen	....	special makeup effects artist
Lisa Mustafa	....	assistant makeup dept.
John Nollet	....	hair stylist: Catherine Deneuve
Ursula Rödel	....	makeup artist: Catherine Deneuve

Production Management
Anders Barlebo	....	unit manager
Joakim Höglund	....	unit manager: Sweden
Lene Irgens	....	post-production manager
Pia Nielsen	....	technical post-production manager
Jonas Overton	....	assistant unit manager: Sweden

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Caroline Sascha Cogez	....	second assistant director
Damian Payne	....	second assistant director: second unit
Anders Refn	....	first assistant director
Anders Refn	....	second unit director

Art Department
Gorm Andersen	....	carpenter
Jonas Alexander Arnby	....	set property assistant (as Jonas Arnby)
Mary Buri	....	prop master: second unit
Friederik Eriksson	....	set property assistant
Simone Grau	....	set property
Jan Hansen	....	carpenter
Cecilia Hersby	....	art department coordinator (as Cecilia Sille Hersby)
Nicola Hewitt	....	set decorator: second unit
Anders Jacobsen	....	set property assistant
Thomas Karlsen	....	property
Carsten Larsen	....	carpenter
Jesper Lorents	....	property master
Bent 'Niller' Nielsen	....	construction coordinator (as Bent Nielsen)

Sound Department
Kristian Eidnes Andersen	....	supervising sound editor
Guy Sigsworth	....	sound processor: Celesta
Ad Stoop	....	boom operator
Per Streit	....	sound designer
Damian Taylor	....	sound processor: Celesta
Paul Walton	....	additional sound recordist
Mark Kenna	....	consultant: Dolby film sound (uncredited)

Stunts
Stig Günther	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Sedsel Andersen	....	continuity: 100 camera department
Frank Berger	....	gaffer
Edvard Friis-Moeller	....	department head: 100 camera department (as Edvard Friis-Moller)
Tómas Gislason	....	consultant: 100 camera department
Peter Hjorth	....	technical director: 100 camera department
David Koskas	....	still photographer
Eric Kress	....	director of photography: second unit
Morten Nybø	....	electrician (as Morten Nyboe)
Helene Sandberg	....	still photographer intern
Harri Sipilä	....	electrician (as Harry Sipilä)
Jean-Robert Viallet	....	video assistant
Lars von Trier	....	camera operator (as Lars Von Trier)
Marcel Zyskind	....	additional camera operator
Marcel Zyskind	....	focus puller
Kristoffer Andrén	....	assistant camera: Sweden (uncredited)

Casting Department
Joyce Nettles	....	casting: UK
Terry Terry	....	extras casting coordinator: second unit
Robbie Wald	....	extras casting assistant: second unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jalene Murphy	....	set costumer
Louize Nissen	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Christine Ekstrand	....	post-production assistant
Peter Hjorth	....	additional editor
Yvan Lucas	....	color timer

Music Department
Mark Bell	....	music producer
Mark Bell	....	music programmer
Björk	....	music arranger: choral
Björk	....	music producer
Björk	....	musician: celesta
Björk	....	vocal editor
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Vincent Mendoza	....	conductor
Vincent Mendoza	....	music arranger
Vincent Mendoza	....	orchestrator
Scott Rodger	....	music manager
Greg Rogers	....	music consultant
Guy Sigsworth	....	musician: celesta
Sjón Sigurdsson	....	composer: lyrics
Valgeir Sigurðsson	....	music editor
Valgeir Sigurðsson	....	music mixer
Valgeir Sigurðsson	....	music programmer
Valgeir Sigurðsson	....	music recordist
Mark Stent	....	music mixer: songs (as Mark 'Spike' Stent)
Lars von Trier	....	composer: lyrics (as Lars Von Trier)
Ray Williams	....	music consultant
Charlie Morgan	....	musician: drums (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Thomas Garris	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Daniel Ahlqvist	....	location manager
Mattias Andersson	....	runner
Mette Berggreen	....	assistant choreographer
Mette Berggreen	....	consultant: dance edit
Andrea F. Cannistraci	....	legal services
Linda Daae	....	continuity
Roger D. Faires	....	location manager: second unit (as Roger Faires)
Jonas Frederiksen	....	production controller
Peter Garde	....	financial advisor
Louise Grosell	....	production coordinator
Andrea Helgadóttir	....	assistant: Björk (as Andrea Helgadottir)
Kerstin Hofstadius	....	travel agent: Sweden
Carsten Holst	....	assistant: Lars von Trier
Joga Jóhannsdóttir	....	assistant: Björk (as Joga Johansdottir)
Per Kirkeby	....	overture sequence
Søren Kloch	....	digital film transfer
Cecilie Kølpin	....	production assistant
Hans Lönnerheden	....	completion bond
Anna Malini Ahlberg	....	production coordinator: Sweden
Andreas Martinsen	....	runner
Liz Miller	....	unit publicist
Mette Nelund	....	financial coordinator
Pia Severin Nielsen	....	assistant: Vibeke Windeløv
Vincent Paterson	....	choreographer
Vincent Paterson	....	dance director
Charlotte Pedersen	....	assistant: Vibeke Windeløv
Cecilie Rui	....	assistant: Vibeke Windeløv
Chris Sanger	....	assistant: Marianne Slot
Paul Schwartzman	....	consigliere
Sean-Michael Smith	....	dialogue coach
Line Spanning	....	travel coordinator
Carsten Sparwath	....	production assistant
Jonathan Sydenham	....	script translator
Nicholas Vroman	....	assistant: Björk, second unit (as Nick Vroman)
James Wilson	....	production executive: FilmFour
Karrie Melendrez	....	story analyst (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Zentropa Entertainments (presented by)
• Trust Film Svenska (presented by)
• Film i Väst (presented by)
• Liberator Productions (presented by)
• Pain Unlimited GmbH Filmproduktion (co-production)
• Cinematograph A/S (co-production)
• What Else? B.V. (co-production)
• Icelandic Film (as Icelandic Film Corporation)
• Blind Spot Pictures Oy (co-production)
• France 3 Cinéma (co-production)
• Danmarks Radio (DR) (as Danish Broadcasting Corporation) (co-production)
• arte France Cinéma (co-production)
• SVT Drama (co-production)
• Arte (co-production)
• Angel Films (in collaboration with)
• Canal+ (in collaboration with)
• FilmFour (in collaboration with)
• Fine Line Features (in collaboration with)
• Filmek A/S (in collaboration with)
• Constantin Film Produktion (in collaboration with) (as Constantin Film)
• Lantia Cinema & Audiovisivi (in collaboration with)
• TV 1000 (in collaboration with)
• VPRO Television (in collaboration with)
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) (in collaboration with)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (in collaboration with)
• Good Machine (associate producer)
• Memfis Film

Distributors

• Angel Films (2000) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2000) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Norge (2000) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2000) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• FilmFour (2000) (UK) (theatrical)
• Fine Line Features (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Constantin Film (????) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (????) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (????) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Golem Distribución (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Gutek Film (????) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Icelandic Film (????) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Instituto Luce (????) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Les Films du Losange (????) (France) (theatrical)
• Nachshon Films (2000) (Israel) (all media)
• New Line Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Palace Films (????) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Shochiku Kinema Kenkyû-jo (????) (Japan) (theatrical)
• UPS (????) (Netherlands) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Dansk Speciel Effekt Service

Other Companies

• Det Danske Filminstitut  supported by
• Eurimages  supported by
• Swedish Film Institute  supported by
• Norwegian Film Institute  supported by
• Icelandic Film Center  supported by (as Icelandic Film Fund)
• Finnish Film Foundation  supported by
• Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen  supported by
• Foundation for Audiovisual Production  supported by
• Nederlands Fonds voor de Film  supported by
• CoBo Fonds  supported by
• Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond  supported by
• Programme MEDIA de la Communauté Européenne  supported by
• Cous Cous  catering: Sweden (as Cous-Cous Catering)
• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  legal services
• Falco Ink.  publicity
• Homestead, The  catering: second unit, Walla Walla
• Travelplan  travel agent: Sweden (as Travel Plan)

Also Known As:

Dancer in the Dark (Denmark) (France)
Myrkradansarinn (Iceland)
Taps (Denmark) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence.

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

Denmark | Germany | Netherlands | Italy | USA | UK | France | Sweden | Finland | Iceland | Norway

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

New Zealand:R13 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Italy:T | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Arlington, Washington, USA

Company:

Zentropa Entertainments

Trivia:

Björk's first leading role in a feature film. During the shooting, she left the set. No one knew where she was and no one was able to contact her. Shooting was suspended indefinitely. She came back after three days - as can be seen in Von Trier's 100 øjne (2000).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Selma knocks on the door and her foreman answers it the door opens from the wrong direction and they are clearly not in the same factory building.

Quotes:

Selma: [talking about musical films] You know when the camera goes really big and it comes up out of the roof, and you just know that it's gonna end? I hate that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in From Dogma to Dogville: Don't Try This at Home (2006)

Soundtrack:

IN THE MUSICALS, PART 2

Bjork gives performance deserving of Oscar.

When I was driving to see this movie, I wondered how I was going to react to the film. Lars Von Trier had always been one of my favorite directors, but I was unsure if I was going to enjoy this film. After watching the film, I half to say that this was one of the best films I had ever seen. Lars von Trier used handheld cinematography perfectly and I was especially impressed by how he operated the camera himself. Also the way he used lighting and still cameras in the music sequences expressed the surreal daydreams of Selma.

Selma, played by Bjork, is a strong willed yet kind character who is hit by a series of bad events. Bjork plays this role so convincingly it is almost uncomfortable to watch. She doesnt act more than emote the character.

With Lars Von Trier directing and great acting, this is far and away the best film of the year. Its unfortunate that America didn't give the recognition the film deserved.