Breaking the Waves Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critics

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 32 Ratings

Summary: Drama set in a repressed, deeply religious community in the north of Scotland, where a naive young woman named Bess McNeil meets and falls in love with Danish oil-rig worker Jan. Bess and Jan are deeply in love but, when Jan returns to his rig, Bess prays to God that he returns for good. Jan does return, his neck broken in an accident aboard the rig. Because of his condition, Jan and Bess are now unable to enjoy a sexual relationship and Jan urges Bess to take another lover and tell him the details. As Bess becomes more and more deviant in her sexual behavior, the more she comes to believe that her actions are guided by God and are helping Jan recover.
Runtime: 159 min
Rating: Rated R for strong graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some violence.
Production: Canal+
Genres: Drama, Romance
Countries: France, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, Iceland
Language: English
Home Release Date: Jul 25, 2000
Director Credit
Lars von Trier Director
Writer Credit
David Pirie Writer
Lars von Trier Written By
Peter Asmussen Co-Written By
Principal Cast Credit
Emily Watson Bess McNeill
Cast Credit
Adrian Rawlins Dr. Richardson
Desmond Reilly An Elder
Finlay Welsh Coroner
Jean-Marc Barr Terry
Jonathan Hackett Priest
Katrin Cartlidge Dodo McNeill
Mikkel Gaup Pits
Phil McCall Grandfather
Robert Robertson Chairman
Roef Ragas Pim
Sandra Voe Mother
Sarah Gudgeon Sybilla
Stellan Skarsgård Jan Nyman
Udo Kier Sadistic Sailor
Producer Credit
Axel Helgeland Co-Producer
Lars Jönsson Executive Producer
Marianne Slot Co-Producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen Producer
Peter van Vogelpoel Co-Producer
Rob Langestraat Co-Producer
Vibeke Windeløv Producer
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