Breaking the Waves is a 1996 film, set in the Scottish Highlands in the 1970s, which tells the story of Bess McNeill, who marries oil-man Jan, despite the apprehensions of her community and Calvinist church. She is somewhat simple, and has difficulty living without him when he is away on the oil platform. She prays for his return, and when he returns paralysed after an industrial accident, she believes it is her fault. No longer able to make love, Jan urges her to find and have sex with other men, and tell him the details. She slowly begins to believe that what she is doing is the wish of God.

The movie was written by Lars von Trier, Peter Asmussen and David Pirie (uncredited), and was directed by von Trier. It stars Emily Watson, in her first film role, and Stellan Skarsgård.

The film shows influences of the Dogme 95 movement, of which von Trier is a founding member.

Breaking the Waves won the "grand prize" at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress (Emily Watson).

Filming locations

• Location:
  • Isle of Skye: The graveyard (built for the film)
  • Lochailort : The church
  • Mallaig: Harbour
  • Morar: Beach
• Studio:
  • Det Danske Filmstudie, Lyngby, Denmark

References

• Lars Von Trier, Breaking the Waves, 1996, ISBN 0-571-19115-0.

External links

• imdb entry
• Filming locations at scotlandthemovie.com