Dancer In The Dark Essay

Dancer in the Dark is a movie about Selma a Czech immigrant and a single mother working in a factory in rural America. Her salvation is her deep passion for music, specifically, the singing and dancing numbers found in classic Hollywood musicals. Selma has a sad secret that she is losing her eyesight, and her son Gene stands to suffer the same fate if she can't put away enough money to secure him an operation. When a desperate neighbor falsely accuses Selma of stealing his savings, the drama of her life escalates to a tragic finale. The film was definitely different than most movies we have watched in class and I have watched in my leisure time. There were two main aspects that stood out: the cinematography and the story.

First, is the cinematography of the film. Since Von Trier was part of the Dogma 95 movement, one could see where the more naturalistic style of filming would come in. It made the film more connectible to, and it also makes viewers sympathize more with Selma and feel more for her plight. The way it was filmed, one can feel if they are watching a documentary about Selma's life. Even when Von Trier would move the camera to follow the action, it was done in such a way that it felt as
It is hard to fathom of a more depressing plot in this era of films. By the end of the film, most people cry due to seeing all of Selma’s struggles. The saddest part was that Selma was relatively upbeat, despite all the ordeals life threw at her without warning. This seems so unrealistically wonderful, because if Selma can be this way, why can't everyone be? Despite how naive and frustrating Selma could be at times in the film, she touches most viewers’ hearts, and it was heartbreaking that she got something she absolutely did not deserve in life. All in all, Dancer in the Dark is an interesting and insightful film. This is not an entertainment film it is more meant to be seen in a critical and artistic