You don’t need eyes to see.|Jun. 30, 2000|Argentina|141 Min.|R
Genre: Crime;Drama
Description: “Dancer in the Dark,” released in 2000, follows the story of Selma Ježková, a Czech immigrant living in Washington state in 1964. Selma, along with her 12-year-old son Gene, faces a life of poverty. She works at a factory alongside her close friend Kathy, whom she affectionately calls Cvalda. They reside in a trailer on the property of Bill Houston, a local policeman, and his wife, Linda. Selma also catches the attention of Jeff, a shy but persistent coworker.
Selma is gradually losing her sight due to a degenerative eye condition. Despite this, she is determined to save enough money for an operation that will prevent her son from suffering the same fate. She finds solace in rehearsing for a production of “The Sound of Music” and attending musical films at the local cinema, which Kathy describes to her as Selma’s vision worsens.
In her everyday life, Selma often escapes into daydreams, envisioning herself in musical scenarios. As her vision deteriorates, Jeff and Kathy begin to suspect her condition is more severe than she lets on. Meanwhile, Bill confides in Selma about his financial struggles, revealing that his wife’s spending has put their home at risk of foreclosure. Selma, in turn, shares her own secret about her advancing vision loss.
One day, after being fired from her job for accidentally damaging a machine, Selma returns home to find her savings stolen. Realizing Bill is the culprit, she confronts him. The film explores themes of hardship, sacrifice, and resilience through Selma’s unwavering determination to protect her son’s future.
Cast director: Lars von Trier
Cast actor: Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Peter Stormare, Joel Grey, Cara Seymour, Vladica Kostic, Jean-Marc Barr, Vincent Paterson, Siobhan Fallon Hogan
Original name: Dancer in the Dark