Review of Breaking the Waves (2014) by Loren W — 14 Oct 2007
The first entry in Lars Von Trier's Golden Heart Trilogy, this heartbreaking depiction of a young, naive woman living in rural Scotland in the 1970's who comes face to face with the true nature of faith and devotion is an overwhelmingly moving examination of the repurcussions and rewards of self-sacrifice.
Bess (played by Emily Watson in her deservedly Oscar-nominated screen debut) is newly married to Jan, a Scandinavian oil rig worker. After Jan is involved in an accident while on the job he is sent home, paralyzed from the neck down.
A devestated Bess is convinced that after having prayed to God to bring Jan home, his injury is her fault. What follows, as Bess attempts to repent for her supposed sins, is a dark and painfully affecting set of events which ends in Bess' inevitable martyrdom.
Trier's crowning achievement is one of great passion that has forever marked him as a master filmmaker.
This review of Breaking the Waves (2014) was written by Loren W on 14 Oct 2007.
Breaking the Waves has generally received positive reviews.
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