Dancer in the Dark (2000)

Director: Lars von Trier

Writer: Lars von Trier

Stars: Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse

Runtime: 140min

PLOT: A girl from Czech moves to America with her young son to save themselves from going blind.

REVIEW: The movie is a courageous reminiscence of traditional cinema fundamentals- a cast consisting of heroines and villains, events that include noble sacrifices and incidents of devious betrayals. Selma, portrayed by Icelandic popstar Björk, is an unfortunate woman who is in perils of losing her eyesight as well as her son's for which she is in dire need of money. Her husband, who is a cop, deceives her which further puts her in a massive turmoil. The movie might seem too far-fetched and deliberately improbable, but that is exactly what it is not; it is deliberately trying to be implausible, making it seem like a soap opera. Most of the film is shot in a monotonous manner; however, the musical numbers have vivid colours, which are set in different settings such as a railroad bridge and a factory floor. 

Dancer in the Dark" is quite unlike any other movie. The implausible storyline may seem unappealing initially, but subsequent sequences make it very clear that the film was made to break off the chains of habit that many movies surround themselves with.

Source: Roger Ebert