Review of Breaking the Waves (2014) by Gilles H — 24 Aug 2008

"Breaking the Waves" is filmmaking. It is art. It is a perfect, perfect example of what the cinema can be, and the painfully realistic power it can contain. It made me forget, quite constantly, that I was watching actors, reciting their lines and pretending to be these characters.

It is beautiful and, without a doubt, one of the greatest cinematic achievements ever filmed.

Intensity is an emotion, quite like grief or pain that is hard to evoke. There are only a handful of actors working today that can bring an effective amount of intensity to their roles, even if the films containing them are not as challenging or successful. (Most notably, for me, was Cate Blanchett's second turn as Queen Elizabeth last year.) Here, Emily Watson embodies a character and creates a woman of such innocence and complex naivety, that it is the heartbeat of this film. Intensity is radiating from her face the entire film, and yet she is able to maintain that naivety and poignancy, especially when she is praying to the Lord. Bess is a Godly woman; she goes to church nearly every day and is in constant meditation for His will. She has waited all her young life for Jan, certain that their union would be the most glorifying gift she could return to God. Jan is played marvelously by Stellan Skarsgard, that wonderful Swedish actor, who is highly underrated, much like his costar. Jan never comes across as having the spiritual assuredness of Bess, but we never question his devotion and gentle care for her. The first forty minutes of the film establishes their marriage and they are allowed a brief time of beautiful intimacy, narrowing their world between them, God, and the blessings they have in sharing each other. Never before have I seen a film where the marriage bed (it is rarely a marriage bed to begin with) is kept pure, and two individuals have waited for the other. I dare say anyone even cares nowadays. There is a joy, then, radiating through von Trier's camera allowing us to be reminded of that intimacy that we should hold dear and keep pure.

Jan works off-shore on an oil rig, and is called back to work a few weeks after becoming a newlywed. Weeks go by and Bess is fervent in her prayers to God, praying that He bring Jan home quickly and safely. Soon after, Jan is injured and it appears that he may be paralyzed for the rest of his life. (None of these details are spoilers, for every synopsis I have read reveals as much.) Bess never loses faith in her Lord, notably that He will heal Jan and life will continue as before. As time passes and hope begins to look grim, Jan makes a strange request of Bess: to make love with another man and then tell him about it, so that he may not forget what love feels like, for he will surely die if he does. Is he teetering on insanity? - possibly. As for the excursions of Bess's sexual martyrdom and, in essence, the rest of the film, I leave that to your discovery. "Breaking the Waves" is unlike any film I have seen, and contains an enormous power and I felt my heart breaking every time Watson's character knelt down to pray.

Lars von Trier used no musical score, but each chapter the film is divided into begins with a few verses of an old pop/rock song, offsetting the mood and setting but completely embracing the theme. He is an ambitious filmmaker, not always successful but always passionate. Here he has crafted a piece of art that requires only one viewing, for it contains such a richness and impassionate truth concerning human nature. I was moved and enthralled by this film and sincerely hope everyone has a chance to experience the journey "Breaking the Waves" contains.