In a small patriarchal community on Scotland's rugged Atlantic coast Bess is considered a good but simple-minded girl, who should not really marry Jan, her foreign oil-rig machinist friend. When Jan is physically disabled in an accident, she succumbs to his wishes of maintaining her sexual relationship with him by proxy. Exposing herself to physical abuse, Bess somehow retains her innocence and closeness to God.
| Original title | Breaking the Waves |
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| Danish title | Breaking the Waves |
| Director | Lars von Trier |
| Screenplay | Lars von Trier, Peter Asmussen, David Pirie |
| Producer | Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Vibeke Windeløv |
| Director of Photography | Per Heegaard, Robby Müller, Jan Weincke |
| Editor | Anders Refn |
| Sound | Per Streit |
| Composer | Joachim Holbek |
| Production designer | Karl Juliusson |
| Casting | Joyce Nettles |
| Appearances | Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr |
| Production country | Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Germany |
| Dialogue language | English,Irish |
| Production company | Zentropa Entertainments |
| Domestic distribution | Zentropa Entertainments |
| International sales | Saredi / Seilergraben 55 / 8001 Zürich |
| Technical info | 4300 meter, 35 mm, 2,35:1 Scope, Kodak, Dolby, SRD |
| Danish theatrical release | 05.07.1996 |
| Cinemas | Dagmar, Scala, Grand, Gladsaxe Bio, Værløse Bio, BioCity (Tåstrup) samt 10 biografer i provinsen |
| Danish rating | Allowed for children over the age of 12 |
Companies |
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| Production company | Zentropa Entertainments |
| Domestic distribution | Zentropa Entertainments |
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Direction |
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| Direction | Lars von Trier |
| 1st assistant director | Morten Arnfred |
| Director: 2. unit | Kristoffer Nyholm |
| Casting | Joyce Nettles |
| Casting: Denmark | Rie Hedegaard |
| Casting: extras, Scotland | Anne Campbell |
| Casting: additional | Ruth Tarko |
| Continuity | Tómas Gislason |
| Continuity | Linda Daae |
| Dialogue director | Elspeth Macnaughton |
| Dialogue coach | Elspeth Macnaughton |
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Script |
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| Screenplay | Lars von Trier |
| Screenplay | Peter Asmussen |
| Screenplay | David Pirie |
| Script consultant | Kirsten Bonnén Rask |
| Script consultant | Tómas Gislason |
| Script: translation | Jonathan Sydenham |
| Script supervisor | Tómas Gislason |
| Script supervisor | Kirsten Bonnén Rask |
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Production |
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| Producer | Peter Aalbæk Jensen |
| Producer | Vibeke Windeløv |
| Co-producer | Axel Helgeland |
| Co-producer | Rob Langestraat |
| Co-producer | Marianne Slot |
| Co-producer | Peter van Vogelpoel |
| Executive producer | Lars Jönsson |
| Production supervisor: post-production | Tove Jystrup |
| Production manager | Leif Mohlin |
| Production manager | Lene Nielsen |
| Production assistant: post-production | Tine Grew Pfeiffer |
| P.A. to Mr. Jönsson | Anna Anthony |
| P.A. to Joyce Nettles | Louise Cross |
| P.A. to Ray Williams | Peter Raeburn |
| Production assistant | Casper Holm |
| Production assistant | Nanna Mailand-Hansen |
| Production consultant: Scotland | Christine Maclean |
| Location manager | Morten Kleener |
| Location manager: Scotland | Janet Riddoch |
| Location scout: Scotland | Anthony Dod Mantle |
| Location scout: Scotland | Peter Ovig Knudson |
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Cinematography |
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| Cinematographer | Per Heegaard |
| Cinematographer | Robby Müller |
| Camera assistant | Thomas Holm |
| Video assistant | Steve Holtson |
| Video assistant | Fredrik Kihl |
| Video assistant | Morten Ziersen |
| Cinematographer: 2. unit | Eric Kress |
| Camera operator | Jean-Paul Meurisse |
| Camera assistant | Per Fredrik Skiöld |
| First assistant camera: 2. unit | Mads Thomsen |
| First assistant camera | Birger Bohm |
| Cinematographer | Jan Weincke |
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Stills |
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| Still photographer | Rolf Konow |
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Electrical dept. |
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| Gaffer | Leif Barney Fick |
| Gaffer | Christopher Porter |
| Best boy | Søren Johannes Meyer |
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Editing |
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| Editor | Anders Refn |
| Assistant editor | Anders Johannes Bukh |
| Negative cutting | Marianne Jerris |
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Music |
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| Composer | Joachim Holbek |
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Production design |
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| Production designer | Karl Juliusson |
| Set dresser | Peter Grant |
| Assistant set dresser | Jonas Alexander Arnby |
| Assistant set dresser | Rasmus With |
| Set dresser | Simone Grau Roney |
| Additional props: Scotland | John Mark Knight |
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Wardrobe |
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| Costume designer | Manon Rasmussen |
| Seamstress | Nini Mandal |
| Seamstress | Nini Mandal |
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Makeup |
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| Makeup artist | Sanne Gravfort |
| Makeup artist | Jennifer Jorfald |
| SFX makeup | Morten Jacobsen |
| Makeup assistant | Dorota Horonska |
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Sound |
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| Sound designer | Per Streit |
| Supervising sound editor | Kristian Selin Eidnes Andersen |
| Recording engineer: 2. unit | Klas Baggström |
| Recording engineer: "Siciliana" | Lars A. Christensen |
| Dialogue editor | Hans Møller |
| Foley artist | Julien Naudin |
| Sound effect editor | Peter Schultz |
| Boom operator | Ad Stoop |
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Special effects |
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| SFX | Lars Kolding Andersen |
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Visual effects |
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| Graphic design | Morten Constantineanu Bak |
| Title design | Henrik Jongdahl |
| Title sequence | Henrik Jongdahl |
| Color timing | Olivier Fontenay |
| Color timing | Patrick Dreyfus |
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Stunt |
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| Stunt coordinator | Terry Forestal |
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Other credits |
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| Expert: folk dance | Else Hartzberg |
| Expert: churches | Christina Mackay |
| Medical consultant | Grethe Wejlgaard |
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Appearance |
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| Bess | Emily Watson |
| Jan | Stellan Skarsgård |
| Dodo | Katrin Cartlidge |
| Terry | Jean-Marc Barr |
| Manden på trawleren | Udo Kier |
| Dr. Richardson | Adrian Rawlins |
| Præsten | Jonathan Hackett |
| Moderen | Sandra Voe |
| William | Phil McCall |
| Pits | Mikkel Gaup |
| Pim | Roef Ragas |
| Sybilla | Sarah Gudgon |
| Ordføreren | Robert Robertson |
| Den ældste | Desmond Reilly |
| Bedende mand 1 | Iain Agnew |
| Bedende mand 2 | Charles Kearney |
| Bedende mand 3 | Steven Leach |
| Bedende mand 4 | Ronald Simon |
| Ung sømand | David Bateson |
| Mand, motorbåden | Bob Docherty |
| Mand, fyret | Owen Kavanagh |
| Mand, bussen | Ray Jefferies |
| Radiooperatør | Callum Cuthbertson |
| Dommer | Finlay Welsh |
| Politibetjent | Gavin Mitchell |
| Doktor, Glasgow | David Gallacher |
| Sygeplejerske | Dorte Rømer |
| Dreng 1 | Anthony O'Donnel |
| Dreng 2 | John Wark |
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Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Festival |
|---|---|---|
| Best European Film in 25 Years | 1998 | Brussels Int. Filmfestival of Fantasy,Thriller & Science Fiction Films 1998 |
| Guldbagge, Bedste Udenlandske Film | 1997 | Göteborg International Film Festival 1997 |
| Camerimage, Audience Prize | 1996 | Torun, Camerimage 1996 |
| Gazeta Pomorska Award | 1996 | Torun, Camerimage 1996 |
| Critic's Jury Distinctive Prize | 1996 | Torun, Camerimage 1996 |
| Film School Students' Prize | 1996 | Torun, Camerimage 1996 |
| FIPRESCI Award / Northern Lights Section | 1996 | Stockholm International Film Festival 1996 |
| Eucemenical Award | 1996 | Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage 1996 |
| Baltic Film Prize | 1996 | Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage 1996 |
| Outstanding Film | 1996 | Busan International Film Festival 1996 |
| Best Film | 1996 | Sarajevo Film Festival 1996 |
| Metro Media Award, 2nd Place | 1996 | Toronto International Film Festival 1996 |
| Amanda | 1996 | Haugesund, Den Norske Filmfestivalen 1996 |
| Herald Angel Prize, Best Female Actor | 1996 | Edinburgh International Film Festival 1996 |
| Watson, Critic's Prize | 1996 | Edinburgh International Film Festival 1996 |
| Grand Prix | 1996 | Cannes, Festival de 1996 |
Festival screenings
| Festival | Festival date |
|---|---|
| Göteborg International Film Festival | 2020-01-24 |
| Moscow Int. Film Festival | 2017-06-22 |
| Chicago International Film Festival | 2014-10-09 |
| Zlin Int. Film Festival for Children & Youth | 2013-05-27 |
| Göteborg International Film Festival | 2012-01-27 |
| Toronto International Film Festival | 2011-11-09 |
| Les Arcs European Film Festival | 2010-12-11 |
| Toronto International Film Festival | 2010-11-08 |
| San Sebastian International Film Festival | 2007-09-20 |
| Lithuania Scanorama Film Forum | 2004-11-11 |
| Goa - Int. Film Festival of India | 2003-10-09 |
| Guadalajara Film Festival | 2000-03-10 |
| Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage | 1998-11-05 |
| Brussels Int. Filmfestival of Fantasy,Thriller & Science Fiction Films | 1998-03-13 |
| Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage | 1997-11-06 |
| Torun, Camerimage | 1996-11-30 |
| Stockholm International Film Festival | 1996-11-10 |
| Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage | 1996-11-07 |
| Vienna Film Festival, Viennale | 1996-10-18 |
| Valladolid International Film Festival | 1996-10-18 |
| Haifa International Film Festival | 1996-09-28 |
| New York Film Festival | 1996-09-27 |
| Busan International Film Festival | 1996-09-18 |
| Sarajevo Film Festival | 1996-09-10 |
| Toronto International Film Festival | 1996-09-05 |
| Haugesund, Den Norske Filmfestivalen | 1996-08-16 |
| Edinburgh International Film Festival | 1996-08-11 |
| Karlovy Vary International Film Festival | 1996-07-05 |
| Cannes, Festival de | 1996-05-09 |
Det Danske Filminstitut registrerer international festivaldeltagelse og priser til danske film,
dog primært de titler, som Filminstituttet varetager i sin festivaldistribution,
og primært i forbindelse med de festivaler, som Filminstituttet har prioriteret at samarbejde med.
Registreringen af festivaldeltagelse og priser til danske film, der ikke er i festivaldistribution,
foretages kun for "launch"-festivaler ifølge Filminstituttets prioriterede festivalliste. Se listen over prioriterede festivaler.
Reviews and articles
On the library you can find these articles and revies and other material about the film.
| Type | Source | Author | Date |
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| Anmeldelse | |||
| Artikel | |||
| Interview | |||
| Varia | |||
| Program - stumfilm & mikro | |||
| Interview | |||
| Senere indgået materiale | |||
| Anmeldelse | |||
| Artikel | |||
| Interview | |||
| Varia | |||
| Program - stumfilm & mikro | |||
| Senere indgået materiale |
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