Dancer in the Dark

Name: Dancer in the Dark
Genre: Drama, Musical
Released: September 22, 2000
Duration: 140 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Björk

2000

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 184 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 184 Ratings

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DANCER IN THE DARK

Movie Details & Credits

Fine Line Features | Release Date: September 22, 2000

Starring: Björk

Summary: Bjork stars as Selma, a Czech immigrant and single mother working in a factory in rural America. She is losing her eyesight and her 10 year-old son stands to suffer the same fate if she can't put away enough money to secure him an operation. (FilmFour)

Director: Lars von Trier

Genre(s): Drama, Musical

Rating: R

Runtime: 140 min

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Awards & Rankings

20	#20 Most Discussed Movie of 2000
64	#64 Most Shared Movie of 2000

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Critic Reviews

100

San Francisco Chronicle - Edward Guthmann

A thrilling, audacious work. Read full review

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

It is a bold, reckless gesture. Read full review

L.A. Weekly - Ella Taylor

I was astonished to find myself weeping copiously over von Trier's latest, which is another parable of monomaniacal sainthood. Read full review

Village Voice - J. Hoberman

This deliriously downbeat vehicle for the postpunk diva Björk has generated the controversy the Danish dogmatist has relentlessly court. Read full review

New York Post - Jonathan Foreman

If it weren't for a terrific central performance by the Icelandic pop singer Bjork, Dancer in the Dark would be all but unwatchable.

USA Today - Mike Clark

This is the kind of movie that has always polarized serious film folk, while the public usually elects to stay home and prune shrubs. Read full review

Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan

So exasperating in its contradictions, so frustrating in its fakery, so deeply irritating in its pretensions, it's frankly hard to know where to begin to dissect it. Read full review

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User Reviews

smijatov

Dec 20, 2010

Dancer in the Dark is one of my favourite films ever. I cannot help but cry every time I watch it. The excellent performance by Bjork (surprisingly excellent, might I add) and the genius direction of Lars von Trier work perfectly to make one of the best films that have graced the filmDancer in the Dark is one of my favourite films ever. I cannot help but cry every time I watch it. The excellent performance by Bjork (surprisingly excellent, might I add) and the genius direction of Lars von Trier work perfectly to make one of the best films that have graced the film screen. Intensely disturbing, yet intensely gratifying and rewarding.… Expand

9 of 10 users found this helpful91

AndrewW.

May 14, 2006

This movie is simply amazing to me. So emotionally moving.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Jeremy

May 2, 2007

[maybe spoilers] Spectacular movie. Spectacular performances. Had this been done by a major famous Hollywood director, it'd be up for an Oscar - if anything for Bjork's wondrous lead performance. One thing that bothers me most about the critics giving poor reviews (20s, 30s, 40s) [maybe spoilers] Spectacular movie. Spectacular performances. Had this been done by a major famous Hollywood director, it'd be up for an Oscar - if anything for Bjork's wondrous lead performance. One thing that bothers me most about the critics giving poor reviews (20s, 30s, 40s) is that they blame it on the depression. "This si 2.5 hours of pure depression," or "the climax: with death row unendurable." It bugs me cause THATS WHAT THE MOVIE IS! It's supposed to be gut-wrenching, and heart-wrenching. It's supposed to make you cry. Make you feel. Make you hate it. It drains you mentally and emotionally, and, sometimes, physically. It's not unendurable though, cause you need to see what happens to her. And then that last song and it's pure misery backing it up - it really gets to you. And when it gets cut off.... one of the most depressing and best endings I've seen to a movie. Though probably the most depressing movie I've ever seen, and probably one of the most depressing movies EVER MADE... it's incredibly well done and it ranks among my favorites.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful

JoanneA.

Feb 22, 2006

A stunningly emotive film, as true to life as it wants to be. The morale, " They say it is the last song / They don't know us, you see / It's only the last song / If you let it be" is one to live your life by.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DanielSolano

Dec 26, 2013

Emotive and artistic. This is a Master piece, i dare to say it's the best film Von Trier has ever made.
Björk becomes in a lovely mother that wants the best for his son... but we're not used to watch sad movies, may tear your heart appart.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LegitSalt

Apr 19, 2018

This was the first film by 'Nazi' Lars Von Trier that I have seen, and I'll say it bluntly, I really enjoyed it. The first 1/3 of the movie or was rather stale, and poorly acted, this combined with distracting editing was anything but a turn on for me. But, as I continued to watch, it didn'tThis was the first film by 'Nazi' Lars Von Trier that I have seen, and I'll say it bluntly, I really enjoyed it. The first 1/3 of the movie or was rather stale, and poorly acted, this combined with distracting editing was anything but a turn on for me. But, as I continued to watch, it didn't bother me as much, because I was sucked into the compelling characters and story. I felt tangible pain several times in the movie when Bjork's character continued to destroy her life, just to keep up the facade of being unimpaired. Bjork, as a whole, was a spectacle to watch, I really bought into her blindness, and felt like I was watching the tragic story of a real Czechoslovakian immigrant. Her blindness didn't seem to be all that consistent, but for the most part, it was a well-implemented plot device. Going back to Bjork, the sounds that she brought to the movie were right up my alley, and after the credits started rolling, I found myself having bought the soundtrack and listened to it play a few times through before I went on to my next task of the day. The tension and emotion built up during the climax and finale were exquisite, and, had I been a more emotional person, I have no doubt I would have cried. Overall, this is a wonderful film that accomplished many things at once. It manages to be an 'anti-musical' critiquing the idealist nature of classic Hollywood musicals. It does this while also still managing to be an enticing drama with great sound to boot. I definitely recommend this to both fans of classic Hollywood musicals, like 'The Sound of Music' or 'My Fair Lady', and to those seeking an enticing and engaging drama.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

D00mM4r1n3

Oct 16, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Dancer in the Dark starts out fine enough with song and story then quicly disintegrates into your typical Euro-trash dark drama. While the summary claims to be about a story taking place in Washington, the entire film comes across as European for the simple reason that it was filmed in Europe. It's both an insult to America and bad film making at the same time. There is nothing that Bjork's character did that would ever result in a death penalty, let alone be carried out in the manner shown.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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