Dancer in the Dark
Directed by Lars von TrierSelma, a Czech immigrant on the verge of blindness, struggles to make ends meet for herself and her son, who has inherited the same genetic disorder and will suffer the same fate without an expensive operation. When life gets too difficult, Selma learns to cope through her love of musicals, dreaming up little numbers to the rhythmic beats of her surroundings.
Where to Watch Dancer in the Dark
Dancer in the Dark Ratings & Reviews
- HakihikoOctober 24, 2025A Harrowing, Unconventional, and Deeply Human Tragedy "Dancer in the Dark" is a haunting and polarizing experience — a film that feels as much like an emotional trial as it does a work of art. Lars von Trier crafts a bleak yet mesmerizing portrait of sacrifice, hope, and despair, told through the eyes of a woman who escapes her brutal reality through the magic of imagined music. It’s a film that’s difficult to watch but even harder to forget. Björk delivers an extraordinary performance as Selma, a factory worker whose innocence and optimism stand in painful contrast to the world’s cruelty. Her portrayal is raw, vulnerable, and disarmingly authentic, carrying the film with emotional force even when the narrative becomes almost unbearable. Catherine Deneuve provides subtle balance as her quiet companion, grounding the film’s heightened emotion with understated compassion. Von Trier’s handheld, documentary-like cinematography gives the story an unsettling realism, while the sudden bursts into musical sequences — bright, dreamlike, and deeply ironic — reveal the fragile beauty of Selma’s inner world. The contrast between harsh reality and the escapism of music is handled with painful precision, turning each song into both a refuge and a heartbreak. That said, the film’s style and tone can be alienating. Its pacing is deliberately slow, and its relentless misery will test even patient viewers. The script occasionally borders on manipulative, pushing emotional buttons too forcefully. Yet, there’s no denying the film’s artistic conviction and the sincerity of its vision. In conclusion, "Dancer in the Dark" is a devastating, unconventional masterpiece that commands respect, even if it’s not one to revisit lightly. It’s a raw fusion of cinema and emotion — flawed, fascinating, and profoundly human — deserving of admiration for its courage, even when it stumbles under its own weight.
- cultfilmlikerJuly 31, 2025Joker: Folie à Deux, but good Musical anti-Fargo Cops do be like that tho OF COURSE Zeljko Ivanek is the prosecutor Peter Stormare playing Lars von Trier does make it a little weird! Love the red scare stuff lol Another incredibly specific main character detail that I unfortunately (imo) am in the 1% it relates to! Even worse that it feels strangely prophetic!
- Kevin WardJuly 6, 2025Björk gives a revelatory performance in Lars Von Trier’s musical drama as Selma, factory worker and single mother with a degenerative eye condition that has her rapidly losing her vision. Though it’s too late for her to have corrective surgery, with the discovery that her son has this genetic condition as well, she works tirelessly to earn enough money while she is physically able, in order to afford the surgery for her son before it’s too late for him as well. The musical numbers factor in when Selma daydreams about theater. The grainy film and drab factory setting stand in stark contrast to the whimsy of the musical numbers, but are perfectly dissonant together. Though I wouldn’t call myself a Björk fan by any stretch, I can’t deny that her singing voice is enchanting. It’s a tragic and depressing tale, but completely my sh🤩.
Dancer in the Dark Trivia
Dancer in the Dark was released on September 1, 2000.
Dancer in the Dark was directed by Lars von Trier.
Dancer in the Dark has a runtime of 2h 20m.
Dancer in the Dark was produced by Vibeke Windeløv, Leo Pescarolo.
Selma, a Czech immigrant on the verge of blindness, struggles to make ends meet for herself and her son, who has inherited the same genetic disorder and will suffer the same fate without an expensive operation. When life gets too difficult, Selma learns to cope through her love of musicals, dreaming up little numbers to the rhythmic beats of her surroundings.
The key characters in Dancer in the Dark are Selma Jezkova (Björk), Kathy (Catherine Deneuve), Bill Houston (David Morse).
Dancer in the Dark is rated R.
Dancer in the Dark is a Drama, Crime, Musical film.
Dancer in the Dark has an audience rating of 9.1 out of 10.
Dancer in the Dark had a budget of $12.5M.
Dancer in the Dark has made $40.1M at the box office.