This movie is going to make you feel terrible!  It’s making me feel terrible just thinking about it.  The first time I saw BREAKING THE WAVES was on a first date. Do go see this film, but do not bring your significant other.

Where spiritual and matrimonial devotion collide, von Trier’s film emerges. BREAKING THE WAVES tells the story of Bess and Jan, two lovers whose relationship becomes complicated when Jan is paralyzed in an industrial accident away from home. Unable to pleasure his wife, Jan urges his naive young bride, Bess, to initiate sex with other men and then tell him about it. Guilt-stricken that her prayers for her husband’s safe return went unanswered, Bess makes the sacrifice for Jan. The torture this causes our protagonists is equal only to the torture you will experience watching it all happen from your seat in the theater. Shot in the Scottish Highlands, where the sky is always grey, this otherwise gloomy film is broken up only by what feel like ironic pop tunes:  Elton John, T Rex, and David Bowie lighting the way. Expect to be moved. BREAKING THE WAVES is a tumultuous ride.

BREAKING THE WAVES (1996) dir. Lars von Trier
Museum of Fine Arts: Remis Auditorium, 161
Friday, February 7 at 7:00 pm
Also screens on Saturday, February 8 at 11:30 am

$9 MFA members, seniors, and students
$11 Nonmembers

Part of Ongoing Film Series: The Films of Lars von Trier

This movie is going to make you feel terrible!  It’s making me feel terrible just thinking about it.  The first time I saw BREAKING THE WAVES was on a first date. Do go see this film, but do not bring your significant other.

Where spiritual and matrimonial devotion collide, von Trier’s film emerges. BREAKING THE WAVES tells the story of Bess and Jan, two lovers whose relationship becomes complicated when Jan is paralyzed in an industrial accident away from home. Unable to pleasure his wife, Jan urges his naive young bride, Bess, to initiate sex with other men and then tell him about it. Guilt-stricken that her prayers for her husband’s safe return went unanswered, Bess makes the sacrifice for Jan. The torture this causes our protagonists is equal only to the torture you will experience watching it all happen from your seat in the theater. Shot in the Scottish Highlands, where the sky is always grey, this otherwise gloomy film is broken up only by what feel like ironic pop tunes:  Elton John, T Rex, and David Bowie lighting the way. Expect to be moved. BREAKING THE WAVES is a tumultuous ride.

BREAKING THE WAVES (1996) dir. Lars von Trier
Museum of Fine Arts: Remis Auditorium, 161
Friday, February 7 at 7:00 pm
Also screens on Saturday, February 8 at 11:30 am

$9 MFA members, seniors, and students
$11 Nonmembers

Part of Ongoing Film Series: The Films of Lars von Trier