DANCER IN THE DARK

Dancer in the Dark

Dancer in the Dark

Introduction

Dancer in the dark is a music drama film, directed by Lars von Trier. It got released in the year 2000. The music for the movie was mostly written by Bjork and Mark Bell. Lars Von Trier and Sjon contributed in the lyrics. Three songs were used from the musical 'The Sound of Music (1959)'. Von Trier saw the potential of music as an escape a choice for the main protagonist Selma (Björk) to avoid the reality. Expressing the deepest human feelings, such as joy, love or respect, the soundtrack, especially the lyrics were inspired by classic musicals like secular vocal and secular, instrumental music. Just like in those movies, the songs are used as stepping stones, to move the story forward in time. So in a point of view the movie fits the requirements of the classic musical genre. There are different stylistic elements of classical music like it has incorporated different styles in it. It has incorporated in itself the styles of romance, elegancy and smoothness.

It got premiered in Cannes Film Festival in the year 2000 where the movie received standing ovations and criticisms, as well. The movie was awarded the Palme d'Or and Best actress award for Bjork (Aros, 1980, p. 78). The song of the movie, 'I've seen it all' got nominated for an academy award for the best song (2001).

Some movie attributes are too delicate to be put into words. That is the case with Lars von Trier's brilliant "Dancer in the Dark," which is close to unique and whose ethereal fascinations defy reduction to mere language. Dancer in the Dark (139 minutes, at the Cineplex Odeon Outer Circle, the Shirlington 7 and the Cinema Arts) is rated R for scenes of disturbing intensity, including violence between men and women.

Others, like "Dancer in the Dark," haunt the memory with a vengeance. Not even an exorcist can remove it (Mundy, 1999, p. 56).

"Dancer in the Dark" can be unpleasant, even downright disturbing in its unflinching look at the injustices and tragedies that befall a Czech immigrant and single mother struggling in an American factory, to support herself and her young son, Gene.

Icelandic rock star Bjork has appeared in music videos, but hardly seems suited to acting in the movies. The dark-haired, pixie- like performer conjure up a raw and essential character in Selma. She makes stainless-steel sinks with her friend Cathy (French actress Catherine Deneuve!). Whenever Selma needs a distraction, and that need grows as the story becomes fraught with tension, she hears a rhythm, and suddenly the dull spaces around her explode into neon colours, the film's refined texture becomes fantastic and grainy. Then she bursts into song while everyone around her cranks out backup vocals or breaks into full- blown dance numbers. Yep, "Dancer in the Dark" is a musical, although nothing - let's repeat that - nothing like you have seen before (Matthews, 2000, p. 67).

Forget the chipper, happy-go-lucky stuff churned out by Rodgers and ...