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Breaking the Waves (1996) poster

1996 · drama

Breaking the Waves

Directed by Lars von Trier2h 39m1996

In a small, conservative Scottish village, an oilman is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when he urges her to have sex with another.

Our read: Breaking the Waves (1996) reads as a heavy, steady, inventive drama entry — extreme in intensity, intimate in scope, cold in temperature, nihilistic in outlook, with a strong directorial signature.

Movie DNA

Heavy, steady, extreme drama, inventive in texture. Nihilistic, intimate, cold.

ElsewhereIMDb7.875kRT85%Metacritic82TMDB7.51k
  • heavy
  • extreme
  • bleak
  • signature
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DNA · twelve axes

How Breaking the Waves feels to watch.

Each axis is scored by hand, not from votes or genre averages. The bar uses the film's own colours.

MoodHeavy ↔ Cosy
PacingSlow-burn ↔ Kinetic
IntensityGentle ↔ Extreme
WeirdnessConventional ↔ Surreal
HopeNihilistic ↔ Redemptive
StakesIntimate ↔ Epic
HumourNone ↔ Broad
RealityGrounded ↔ Fantastical
DensitySparse ↔ Twisty
WarmthCold ↔ Tender
AuteurTransparent ↔ Signature
Tonight, this looks like

What watching it is actually like.

“You want raw faith-and-sacrifice drama that leaves you morally shattered and awed.”

ends devastatingit will wreck youbuilds to a gut-punch finalegrips by minute 20attention 5/5feels its length
Date nightWith friendsSoloWith parentsKids around
Heads-upexplicit sexsexual violencegraphic violencenudity

Skip it tonight — Skip if sexual degradation themes or von Trier cruelty will destroy your evening.

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