Dancer in the Dark Film Review Essay - 1943 Words

If I was to reduce my description of Dancer in the dark to one word, it would be daring. Its immediate effect on me was stronger than that of maybe any other film Ive ever seen. It shook me, stirred my emotions, made me think and reflect, it disturbed me in the most positive sense of the word and it still does. Its radical make, boldness and consistency exceeds all expectations and probably everything thats come before. This is the perfect example of a directors vision uncompromisingly realized. To be fair, I have to say that Dancer in the dark is one of those films that people either deeply admire and love or hate and find ridiculous. If you belong to the latter category, nothing I write will make you rethink your opinion, due†¦show more content†¦Selma, however, harbours a dark secret. She is afflicted with a hereditary blinding disease that eats away at her sight as she grows older. She works horrendous hours of every day and night to save up to pay for an operation that will give her son the chance of a life free of blindness. Selma is saved from the crushing sadness of her existence by music. Music she hears on the factory floor, the passing train, echoed footfalls, the air shaft in the wall. Every time she hears or feels a beat she imagines herself breaking into a spontaneous song and dance routine like she had seen so many times in her childhood. Any rhythmic sound source is likely to elevate her to the world of musicals. Sounds of her surroundings are the ba ss line to an extravagant musical fantasy world, this not only allows her to break away from the horrors of the situations she finds herself in, but also allows Von Trier to briefly break away from the confines of his Dogma. As the movie progresses we get to witness her life crumbling and falling apart around her. There are many aspects about Dancer in the Dark that make it stand out so distinctly. Relating to the songs, the first phrase that came to my mind after seeing the film was: a musical for people who dislike musicals. The whole mood and depressing atmosphere formed a contrast to what we think of when we hear musical. In addition, the songs were not embedded realistically in the film (thatsShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Film Black Swan 1284 Words   |  6 Pages Black Swan a film made in 2010 starring Natalie Portman took us into the world of ballet dancer Nina Sayers. The film shows Nina’s journey, as she tries to attempt to be the perfect embodiment of the Swan Queen. The Swan Queen role encompassing both the Black and White swan. It shows the struggle she makes to let go and break the perfection of the White swan to become the Black Swan. This is the story at surface value. 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