MovieChat Forums > Dancer in the Dark (2000) Discussion > Not convinced by Bjorks acting abilities

Not convinced by Bjorks acting abilities

posted 17 years ago by tallbird50
46 replies | jump to latest

I watched the film for the first time last night. I have previously seen 3 of Lars Von Triers films, Breaking the Waves, Dogville and The Idiots. I loved all of these films. I found them very moving and profound. I did not think the same of Dancer in the Dark however.

I thought that the character of Selma was similar in nature to Bess in Breaking the Waves i.e. an innocent in a world of corruption and hypocrisy sacrificing everything for a loved one. The only difference being Emily Watson was believable in that role and Bjork was not.

I found Bjork unconvincing in the extreme. Her acting of "innocence" seemed contrived and twee. The musical numbers were too Bjork-ified which meant that for me it just seem like one long Bjork promo. I also found her actions which drive the tragedy of the plot stupefying. As her innocence had not been convincingly conveyed to me her actions in the court room were absurd. Keeping "mum" to the end because she'd promised too. Oh dear. How unutterably, tragically, pathetic.

She was also verging on cruelty in relation to her child. Not seeing him, not sending any message to him once she was in prison. Never buying him a birthday present because she wasn't "that sort of mum". You are supposed to sympathise as she is saving to pay for the operation but she doesn't set any money aside for the therapy that kid would undoubtedly need after such an upbringing.

I think about how that film could have been with an actor of Emily Watson's abilities playing the role of Selma and I can imagine it as being intensely moving and believable. But for me the film was irretrievably ruined by the over weaning presence of Bjork's personality.

[–] angelexposed 13 years ago

At first, I wasn't convinced by Bjork's acting in the film, but the more I got into the film, the more I began to get sucked into her Character and her reasons for being the way she was and for behaving in such a way. Bjork did wonderfully for a woman who is not technically an actor (although, one thing I will admit is that her accent mixed of Icelandic/British kind of ditracted me from the character supposedly being Czech).

I do agree with what others have said about Selma being very much like Bess from "Breaking the Waves". Only instead of talking to God as Bess does, Selma loses herself in these musical fantasies as a way to cope with the world around her. I wouldn't say Selma is supposed to be mentally ill, but Bjork played a wonderful part in making her seem lost to the world because the world is lost to her when her sight fails her.

As for the Original Poster's original comments, the character is referred to much more than Bjork's acting, which is fine, but these points aren't really Bjork's fault as she can only portray what is written for her.

As for Selma's behaviour with her son, well, after she is imprisoned, it would be downright cruel of her to try to maintain a steady connection with the lad after she is dooming herself to a death sentence to ensure his sight is saved. Letting him have connections with her, then having her snatched from him after her execution would be utterly horrific.

If anything, I think their relationship is somewhat strained throughout the film anyway even before her imprisonment as the lad is carted off to her landlords as she leaves for work, etc. I don't see Gene as necessarily feeling utterly neglected by this (all too accepting, most likely), but I do feel that Selma is aware she is utterly neglecting him, all too aware that saving his sight is the most important factor in her life right now (always that feeling of "there'll be time later" lingering in the background which in the end, didn't work out sadly).

As mentioned, the music, again, it was odd and didn't belong in the film, and yet, I thought that was utterly what made the music work with the film. She took a sound that did ABSOLUTELY have NO BUSINESS being in a film based in the 1960's and she forced it to belong and magically it did. It strangely took me into Selma's world without dragging me into her blindness (always over done in a movie with blind characters). I felt the music was supposed to be her skewed version of the world, and that the musical pieces and dance numbers portrayed what she wanted the world to be like now that she couldn't see it anymore. I normally am not a fan of Bjork or her music, but I really loved the soundtrack, and was totally swept away by it.

She deserved ALL the praise she got for this film and even more so.
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We've become a race of peeping toms.

[–] HalBanksy 8 years ago

From the start I found it quite awkward because I couldn't see past Bjork to the character. But gradually she just became Selma and by the end her performance had completely blown me away. This film is incredible.

Never buying him a birthday present because she wasn't "that sort of mum"

I understood this situation to not be an issue about her morals as a parent - but that she literally could not afford to buy anything. All her money went to the operation, right down to the last cents - so the child couldn't be allowed to start expecting gifts. I'm sure she would have bought the bike herself if she has been able to.

It's hard to imagine anyone else acting this role. Even beyond the script, I really feel this film was a complete collaboration between actor and director - So the film would not be presented like this without her input. I imagine Bjork sees the world quite like Selma does, that's why it's works so well in my opinion.