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 | Musical

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 | Blind | Money | Disturbing | Stage Play

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 22 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 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
Fabio D'Amico	....	adr recordist
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)
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
Malini Ahlberg	....	production coordinator: Sweden (as Anna Malini Ahlberg)
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
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)
• Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep (VPRO) (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)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB (2000) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• FilmFour (2000) (UK) (theatrical)
• Icelandic Film (2000) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2000) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fine Line Features (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Films du Losange (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• Instituto Luce (2000) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Gutek Film (2000) (Poland) (theatrical)
• UPS (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Golem Distribución (2000) (Spain) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2000) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Shôchiku Eiga (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Palace Films (2000) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Canvas (2004) (Belgium) (TV)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Nachshon Films (2000) (Israel) (all media)
• New Line Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Prime Time Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)

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:

Lars von Trier has said that each morning before filming, Björk would say "Mr. von Trier, I despise you," and spit at him.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Even though the character of Selma is from Czechoslovakia, her accent is not Czech.

Quotes:

Selma: I listen to my heart.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bodilfesten 2001 (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

A Movie To Break Your Heart

It feels awkward to attempt to put Dancer in the Dark into words. Von Trier's film is one of those movies that truly change the way we think about cinema and its possibilities, and for such a film, words do no justice. Dancer in the Dark centers around Selma (Björk), a factory worker, who loves her 10-year-old son above everything else in the world. Selma is a happy, innocent creature who enjoys musicals for "nothing bad ever happens in them". These elements (mother's love for her son, joyfulness of musicals versus the hardships of every day life) create a whole unlike anything ever seen on silver screen. Selma is rapidly losing her eye sight, but not her vision: she's the 'dancer in the dark' who is prepared to sacrifice herself to keep the light in her child's eyes. Very early on it becomes obvious that this story can't have a happy ending. However, once you've accepted it, you can put your mind at ease and see the film as it unfolds from Selma's point of view. And what a view it is! Björk gives a performance of a life time - this little woman with a huge voice is all emotion all the time without ever appearing overtly dramatic or cheaply sentimental. There's no weak link in the rest of the cast either, Peter Stormare as Jeff, Catherine Deneuve as Kathy and Siobhan Fallon as the prison guard to name but a few. The biggest star is still the director himself; von Trier demonstrates his talent in a superb fashion by both telling a simple story that will most likely break you heart and examining the ever-persistent ills of the life of the lower class of the American society. What about the film's musical character then? This is where von Trier triumphs the most by understanding the very essence of the whole genre - hope; hope that will live in our soul for ever if we'll only follow our heart.