Blog Directory CineVerse: Making waves

Making waves

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Lars Von Trier's "Breaking the Waves" proved to be an arresting study of the power of love, with impressive performances and candid carnality. A recap of our group discussion of this picture follows:

WHAT IS SURPRISING AND UNEXPECTED ABOUT BREAKING THE WAVES?
·       The frankness and honesty with which it depicts and addresses sexual situations between two lovers and related to a woman’s will and desire.
·       The length: this is a 160-minute picture broken up into many different chapters; the chapters are introduced with 60s and 70s pop music that was likely chosen to inform and emotionally color the ensuing episode.
·       The look: the film adopts a cinema verite style by employing handheld camera; it enhances a rough, real-world worn appearance by being shot on film, transferring the image to video, then transferring the picture back to film, creating a grainy, imperfect visual with muted colors.
·       The disturbing content and violence depicted, especially near the ending: the visuals can be shocking and haunting, but they’re meant to make a strong impression.
·       The tone: the ending can be seen as depressing or uplifting, depending on how you interpret what was gained or lost.

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR THEMES THAT LARS VON TRIER AND THE FILMMAKERS ATTEMPT TO EXPLORE IN THIS MOVIE?
·       The challenges of being a woman in a patriarchal society that expects its females to be submissive, pure, and “good.”
·       The hypocritical nature and double standard ethic of patriarchal society, whereby men get away with many things and enjoy many more freedoms than women do.
·       How women are often trapped between two expected roles: the whore and the virgin.
·       Bess also plays as a sacrificial Christ-like figure who must give her body for her beloved’s salvation; and as a Mary Magdalene or Joan of Arc-like symbol, too.
·       The film challenges the viewer to question Bess’ motivation for acting the way she does after her husband’s accident: does she feel guilty and obligated to carry out his wishes? Does she believe that it will save his life and that it is her duty? Does she, with her husband’s blessing, wish to fully explore and experiment in her sexuality?
·       The film appears consistent in condemning strict religious-steeped patriarchal values; it shows the aftermath of what that kind of culture can do to a woman: she dies at the end, perhaps an unintentional martyr or victim of that culture.
·       By the movie’s conclusion, the viewer has to decide: does Bess become the “good girl” she wishes to be? And was it worth the price?
·       What’s the proof that Bess’ sacrifice—her death—had a redemptive purpose and was worthwhile? After all, she dies, so what was accomplished? We see her husband start to improve. This can be interpreted as a victory: she has saved his life with her love.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOVIE’S TITLE?
·       It possibly refers to “not making waves” or upsetting the natural order of things; Bess attempts to break those conventions and expectations.
·       The word “breaking” is important, because she breaks from society and, in the end, her body breaks; and “waves” refers to the seaside community she lives in.

OTHER FILMS BY LARS VON TRIER
·       Europa
·       Dogville
·       Manderlay
·       Antichrist
·       Melancholia

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