Denmark / Sweden / France / Netherlands,
1996, 159 min
(Director's cut: 153 min)
Directed by:
Lars von TrierScreenplay:
Lars von TrierCinematography:
Robby MüllerCast:
Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr, Adrian Rawlins, Jonathan Hackett, Sandra Voe, Udo Kier, Mikkel Gaup, Roef Ragas, Phil McCall (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Featuring an astonishing Oscar-nominated performance by Emily Watson, Lars von Trier's powerful Breaking the Waves tell the story of Bess, a naive young woman who marries Jan, a handsome oil-rig worker. Their marital bliss is cut when an accident on the rig leaves Jan paralysed. Believing he will never make love to Bess again, he tells her to take other lovers, convincing her that this will help his recovery. Bess is sent spiralling into a world of dark emotions she cannot understand. (Artificial Eye)
(more)Awards
- Winner
- Nominations
Academy Awards
- 1997 - Emily Watson (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role)
Independent Spirit Awards
- 1997 - Lars von Trier (Best International Film)
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)
- 1997 - Emily Watson (Best Leading Actress)
European Film Awards
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Best Film)
- 1996 - Emily Watson (Best Actress)
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (FIPRESCI Prize)
César Awards
- 1997 - Best Foreign Film
Goya Awards
- 1997 - Lars von Trier (Best European Feature)
Robert Awards (Danish Film Awards)
- 1997 - Lars von Trier (Best Danish Film)
- 1997 - Emily Watson (Best Actress in a Leading Role)
- 1997 - Katrin Cartlidge (Best Actress in a Supporting Role)
- 1997 - Lars von Trier (Best Screenplay)
- 1997 - Robby Müller (Best Cinematography)
- 1997 - Karl Júlíusson (Best Production Design)
- 1997 - Anders Refn (Best Editing)
- 1997 - Jennifer Jorfaid, Sanne Gravfort (Best Make-Up)
- 1997 - Per Streit (Best Sound)
Guldbagge Awards
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Best Foreign Film)
Amanda Awards
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Best Nordic Film (Nordic Amanda))
Golden Globes
- 1997 - Best Motion Picture – Drama
- 1997 - Emily Watson (Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama)
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards
- 1996 - Best Film
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
- 1996 - Emily Watson (New Generation Award)
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Best Director)
- 1996 - Emily Watson (Best Actress)
- 1996 - Robby Müller (Best Cinematographer)
- 1996 - Best Film
Cannes Film Festival
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Grand Prize)
- 1996 - Lars von Trier (Golden Palm - Official Competition)