THURSDAY 20 NOV – H 18:30 – ROOM 1

DANCER IN THE DARK
DENMARK – 2000 – color – 139’

Direction: Lars von Trier
Screenplay: Lars von Trier
Cinematography: Robby Müller
Editing: Molly Malene Stensgård, François Gédigier
Production design: Karl Juliussen
Music: Björk
Costumes: Manon Rasmussen
Cast: Björk (Selma Yeskova), Catherine Deneuve (Kathy), David Morse (Bill), Peter Stormare (Jeff), Joel Grey (Oldrich Novy), Cara Seymour (Linda Houston), Jean-Marc Barr (Norman), Udo Kier (Dr. Porkorny), Stellan Skarsgård (physican), Zeljko Ivanek (prosecutor), Vladica Kostic (Gene Yeskova)
Producer: Vibeke Windeløv
Production: Zentropa
Italian distribution: Movies Inspired

Synopsis
Selma, a Czech immigrant, is a single mother, working in a factory in the American countryside. Her great passion for music, namely for all the songs and dances from Hollywood’s most famous musicals, helps her to bear a deep pain she hides from everyone: she is going blind. In addition, her son Gene will face the same fate unless he can undergo an expensive operation. One day, a neighbor, who is equally desperate as she, falsely accuses her of stealing his savings, setting off a tragic chain of events

critical note
“Realism in the form of a musical, or a musical in the form of realism. With beautiful choreography and amazing songs, Lars von Trier amazes us once again as well as manages to bring the film to completion without the dramatic tone being undermined by the musical interludes. The result is a heart-wrenching film, suspended in grace. (…) Very long, over three hours, yet never boring; it will appeal to those who have the courage to deviate from the confinement of verisimilitude and allow themselves to be overwhelmed by compassion.”
(Piera Detassis, Panorama, August 24, 2000).

main awards and festivals
2000 Festival di Cannes – Competition: Golden Palm, Best Actress
2000 European Film Awards:  Best Film, Actress, EFA People’s Choice Award to Best Director, Actress
2000 Tallin Black Night FF: Audience Award
2001 Japanese Academy Awards: Best Foreign Film
2001 Goya Awards: Best European Film