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Rated R
***1/2 of ****
Length: 139 minutes
Written & Directed by Lars von Trier
Choreographer: Vincent Paterson
Cast:
Björk: Selma
Catherine Deneuve: Kathy
David Morse: Bill
Peter Stormare: Jeff
Vincent Paterson: Samuel
Despite her award winning performance, if you hate Björk, you will find this film intolerable! Except for about 15 seconds. ;) This is a good film, but depressing. Probably the most dark and depressing musical ever made. The success in making this combination work is to be commended.
Synopsis:
Set in 1964, a Czechoslovakian immigrant moves to a rural area the state of Washington. Selma, a single mother, works in a factory on a press during the day, a local musical theater group during the evening, and is always looking out for her one son's long term best interests. Selma is slowly going blind from a genetic condition that her son also will develop unless he can get an operation that will save his sight. She is working very hard to save up enough money to pay for this procedure. The only thing that helps Selma make it through her dreary existence is her deep passion for musicals. She has a major role in the community theater's upcoming production of The Sound of Music, but her eyesight is failing fast. She daydreams during work at the factory. The industrial rhythmic banging sets the beat for the dreamed and unusual musical scenes that give her and the audience some much needed bright moments.
Review:
There are a seven musical scenes that are quite involved. The first one doesn't start until around 40 minutes in to the film, but they are more frequent as the film moves forward and Selma gets more distraught. The transitions to the alternate reality of the musicals is smoothly segued by an emphasis on the rhythmic noises, and then a shift in the lighting and color of the scene. The lyrics add to the story, but are hard to interpret because the phrasing in this English language film is written by people who do not speak English as their first language. The choreography is creative and works within the environment The Danish director von Trier's use of digital video cameras was interesting, but the shakiness quickly grew wearisome. All the members of the cast did well, and Björk in particular had by far the most acting to do. The multitude of extreme close camera angles keeps the film edgy, and makes the song & dance passages the relaxing part for the audience.
Her courage is unflinching as Selma dedicates everything in her life no matter the consequences to save her son from his genetic fate. The friendships and the powerful and single-minded dedication of Selma makes you feel for these characters whose misfortunes are based on ignorance and poverty. The audacity required to attempt to this film has been proven worth while.
More detailed soundtrack here:
Soundtrack:
Overture
Cvalda
I've Seen It All
Smith and Wesson
In The Musicals 1
In The Musicals 2
107 Steps
Next To Last Song
New World (Overture)
My Favourite things
So Long, Farewell
Climb Every Mountain
?? * Scatter Heart - * ??
--What is there to see?--