Breaking the Waves
Ever since Google+ started, I have stopped checking Facebook, reading newsfeeds with very few exceptions and completely stopped tumblr-ing. Instead I read everything those few people write who I have in my stream, and comment on literally everything. It’s amazing – for once, a social network is making me really social! (You are welcome to add me, of course. Uh… comment and I’ll send you a link or something XD)
With that said, this is only one reason why I have not blogged “Breaking the Waves” after watching it. I got to Berlin and first thing I do is doing tons and tons of things, mostly involving meeting friends. It makes me realize how incredibly different my life is from those in “Breaking the Waves” yet at the same the film dragged me into its emotional turmoil.
I think Bess is one of the best characters Lars von Trier ever created, potentially even topping the main character in “Dancer in the Dark” and clearly more fascinating than Grace in “Dogville”. You laugh with her and cry with her, and even the more disturbing scenes are still very tastefully executed. Perhaps the last scene can be considered kitsch, but I didn’t feel that way. I thought the film was truly tragic and although the husband can be considered crazy, his love for his wife was still visible even in his worst times. At times, I thought the film made no sense; for example, why would Dodo let her go after the attempt of putting her into a hospital? But then again, it doesn’t matter because the denouement of Bess’ story was just that powerful.
This film made me remember why I used to love Lars von Trier whereas nowadays I feel a certain annoyance with every single new film he is making. Good old times, wait no – wonderful old times.
Do you feel like you were still able to identify with the film at least? Many times I cannot identify with a story, yet it works out and it’s enjoyable. But identification is still a great stimulus.
And oh, G+. It’s quite addicting and the circles work pretty great. Leaving my profile url in the website field ;)
I couldn’t agree more with the first paragraph, it’s incredible!
It’s becoming kind of boring, but the only thing I can say is that you finally motivated me to watch the rest of it.
@Ryan A: The film doesn’t really provide any identification potential for me. But it totally works nevertheless, which makes it even more powerful. It suggests that, as human beings, it seems like we can feel compassion for people who are completely different from us.
It’s so addicting! But Ryan, we already have each other in circles… now the big question is:
A. Did you think I was somebody else or
B. am I in the “Who the heck is this person” circle? XXXXD
@Pixelmatsch: You thought the film was boring… really? Wow, I was pretty glued to the screen when I saw it. But then again, I really liked the main character, even more so than Björk’s character in “Dancer in the Dark”. The facial expressions Emily Watson makes! They are so awesome. XD
Err… I was referring to my increasingly monotone comments? XD
HAHAHA awesome. XD I am, uh, sorry about misunderstanding that XD