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The joy of musicals is that they're so jovial and exaggerated that they counterbalance cold hard reality and offer audiences a happy form of escapism. Dancer int he Dark somehow does the opposite; it immerses the audience in the tragedy of the characters, until it finally punches you in the gut and leaves you crying on the ground.
This is a long film, but it is pretty briskly-cut so that no scene outstays its welcome. There are just a few musical numbers, but they aren't necessarily the same kind of flamboyancy you see in The Sound of Music or anything. If anything, the sequences in this film are downbeat and perhaps a little awkward. I don't think this film stands out as a great musical, but it does stand out as a great drama, because the film's sole focus is on story and character.
The musical aspect of the film provides a stark contrast between the main character's daydreaming and the harsh reality she has to face. Ultimately, it is the drama of Selma Ježková that takes the spotlight and makes the film so invoking; the film builds her up in a way that we don't want to see anything bad happen to her. Inevitably, the story gradually unfolds until desperation and hard times forces neighbors to betray one another, and the last half of the film leads to a hard-hitting finale. The last scene is among one of the most depressing endings I've seen. One could complain about the story - it does have some contrivances and manipulation - and chances are that some folks won't care for how things play out. I believe that it is an interesting plot that's laden with strong themes concerning dreams (both personal and the American dream), and the film's play on real-looking drama and musical fantasy makes it feel even more punchy.
Inspired by the Dogme 95' style, this film is crafted with a lot of hand-held camera work, blunt editing, and dull color schemes, giving it a pseudo-documentary look and feel. Musical sequences contrast greatly, using still camera work and a music-video style of editing, and more color. Acting isn't bad; the singer Björk is surprisingly a perfect fit for Selma's character, giving her a life and personality we can't help but to sympathize with. Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, and Peter Stormare are earnest in their roles. Writing isn't too subtle or sophisticated, but it matches up well with the performances and the film's style. Björk's music ranges from snazzy to hauntingly ambient, and the same extends to the music she made for this film; it is especially interesting how the background beats are made to match up with the sound effects of a given scene. The final song used in the overture, end credits, and last scene might be the most beautiful one I've heard her sing.
Dancer in the Dark is a bit like Breaking The Waves; both are gut-wrenching stories of women with golden hearts who become victims of unfortunate circumstances. I give Dancer in the Dark the edge for using entwining the genre of musicals with the drama to give it contrast and weight. I believe it is a storytelling experience that everybody should try out at least once.
4.5/5 (Experience: Good | Story: Very Good | Film: Very Good)
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