Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

Breaking the Waves Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 7, 2014

Winner of the Grand Prize of the Jury at the Cannes Film Festival, Lars von Trier's "Breaking the Waves" arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer; new and exclusive video interviews with Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgard, and Adrian Rawlins; new video interview with filmmaker and critic Stig Bjorkman; deleted scenes with optional audio commentary by Lars von Trier, editor Anders Refn, and location scout Anthony Dod Mantle; and more. The release also arrives with a 32-page illustrated booklet featuring David Sterritt's essay "Breaking the Rules" and an interview with director Lars von Trier conducted by Stig Bjorkman, which originally appeared in Bjorkman's 1999 book Trier on von Trier. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

"Please bring him back, God"

Breaking the Waves is a film that can make one’s blood boil -- and for a number of different reasons. It is directed by Danish helmer Lars von Trier, who once described it as "simple love story". But it is hardly a simple film, and it is as much about love as it is about hatred, the type that can easily destroy people.

The film is set during the 70s and follows closely a young virgin named Bess (Emily Watson, The Boxer), who lives in a remote and very conservative Scottish village together with her large family. Bess has fallen in love with Jan (Stellan Skarsgard, Insomnia), who works on a big oil rig in the North Sea and only occasionally visits the village. The two have decided to get married, but a lot of people aren’t happy that they want to create a family because in addition to being a Scandinavian outsider Jan is also a non-believer.

Shortly after the wedding, Jan has a serious accident on the oil rig -- his skull is fractured and his body paralyzed from the neck down. Bess feels partially responsible for his misery because prior to the accident she begged God to bring her husband home.

Confined to a hospital bed and seriously depressed, Jan tells Bess to find a lover that would give her what he can’t -- sexual pleasure. Then she can describe her experiences to him and together they will be able to have the type of intimate relationship a man and his wife should.

Initially Bess rejects Jan’s request, but later on decides to please him. There is no shortage of men willing to help her accomplish her goal. But after she begins dressing like the local whores do and then meets a few horny sailors, Bess earns a reputation that seriously complicates her relationship with her family and the local community leaders.

Convinced that she is sacrificing for her beloved Jan, Bess keeps begging God to guide her and help her husband recover.

There are two key relationships in the film that are examined in ways that force the viewer to reevaluate the power and importance of faith. The conventional one is between Bess and Jan, who are madly in love and fully committed to each other. When their relationship is tested, Bess’ faith gives her the strength she needs to continue supporting and loving her husband. The more unusual relationship is between Bess and God. It is a relationship that is never tested. Bess simply approaches God when she needs His wisdom and then follows His advice. Then she suffers -- a lot -- while God is watching.

The film is so direct and uncompromising that at times it feels like von Trier is simply trying to get the viewer out of his comfort zone - or maybe not. Dangerous fanaticism, sickening indifference, and a lot of abuse are easily rationalized by bizarre pretenses of civilized morality. The question the film asks is this: Are these pretenses a thing of the past?

The film is broken into multiple chapters and its visual style has a lot in common with the one promoted by the famous Dogme movement -- the action is filmed on location, the hand-held camera constantly moves, there are numerous uneven close-ups, and light is frequently under/overexposed. Von Trier and cinematographer Robby Muller’s (Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas, Barbet Schroeder’s Barfly) use of color throughout the film is also quite unique. (Von Trier directed his first Dogme film, The Idiots, two years after Breaking the Waves).

Watson, who made her acting debut in Breaking the Waves, is sensational. Frankly, it is difficult to imagine that without her the film would have been as absorbing as it is. Skarsgard is equally impressive as the paralyzed Jan. The late Katrin Cartlidge, Adrian Rawlins, Udo Kier, and Jean-Marc Barr also leave lasting impressions.

Breaking the Waves Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"Supervised by director Lars von Trier, this new digital transfer was created in 6K resolution on an ARRISCAN film scanner from the 35mm original camera negative and the 35mm internegative at Nordisk Film Shortcut in Copenhagen. It was restored in 4K at Zentropa Klippegangen ApS in Hvidovre, Denmark. The film's 5.1 surround soundtrack was restored at Mainstream ApS in Hvidovre.

Supervision: Lars von Trier.
Restoration and transfer supervisor: Lars "Lalo" Werner Nielsen/Zentropa Klippegangen, Hvidovre, Denmark.
Technical supervisor: Simon Lytting/Zentropa Klippegangen, Hvidovre.
Creative consultant: Peter Hjorth/Zentropa Klippegangen, Hvidovre.
Resoration assistants: Mikeal Reider, Jacob Thorndal/Zentropa Klippegangen, Hvidovre.
ARRISCAN technician: Anders Block Rose/Nordisk Film Shortcut, Copenhagen.
Sound restoration: Mainstream, Hvidovre."

The high-definition transfer is enormously impressive. Despite various source limitations -- such as grain fluctuations, contrast fluctuations, and inconsistent light/shadow balance -- clarity is dramatically improved. Image depth, and especially in areas where there is plenty of natural light, is also substantially better. (On the old R1 DVD release the film frequently looks flat). During close-ups and panoramic shots now it is incredibly easy to see small details that are simply missing on the DVD release. Furthermore, there is an entirely new range of colors. For example, the digital inserts used between the different chapters look lusher and better saturated. The native footage also boasts a new range of richer and better nuanced colors. As a result, large areas of the film now look drastically different. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections/adjustments. Overall image stability is excellent. Finally, when projected the film remains tight around the edges of the frame and pleasingly crisp. All in all, this new restoration of Breaking the Waves looks quite remarkable on Blu-ray, and I feel very confident stating that it will likely remain the film's definitive presentation on the home video market. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

Breaking the Waves Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside image frame.

The film has a very organic sound design. Only during the transitions between the different chapters music has an important role. Unsurprisingly, dynamic intensity is quite modest. The various natural sounds and noises, however, are exceptionally crisp and easy to identify. The dialog is also clear and crisp, though there are some inherited dynamic fluctuations. (As it is the case with many Dogme films, the camera constantly moves and occasionally the dialog is somewhat uneven). There are no pops, cracks, audio dropouts, or distortions to report in this review.

Breaking the Waves Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for Breaking the Waves. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080i).

• Cast Interviews -
  
  1. Emily Watson - in this new video interview, the British actress discusses her contribution to Breaking the Waves, some of the challenges she faced during the shooting of the film, her character (as well as her interactions with Katrin Cartlidge), Lars von Trier's directing methods, the film's success at the Cannes Film Festival, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in London in 2013. In English, not subtitled. (18 min, 1080p).
  
  2. Stellan Skarsgard - in this new interview, the acclaimed Swedish actor discusses his numerous collaborations with Lars von Trier, his directing methods and the important roles women have in his films, Breaking the Waves and the character he plays, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in Stockholm in May 2013. In English, not subtitled. (13 min, 1080p).
  
  3. Adrian Rawlins - in this video interview, actor Adrian Rawlins, who plays Dr. Richardson, discusses Lars von Trier's directing methods and his contribution to Breaking the Waves. The interview was produced in 2004 by Electric Parc. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080i).

• Stig Bjorkman - in this new video interview, filmmaker and critic Stig Bjorkman discusses the evolution of the visual style of Lars von Trier's films (and the impact of the Dogme movement), the shooting of Breaking the Waves, etc. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in New York in May 2013. In English, not subtitled. (11 min, 1080p).

• Selected-Scene Commentary - selected-scene audio commentary featuring director Lars von Trier, editor Anders Refn, and location scout Anthony Dod Mantle. In English, not subtitled. (48 min, 1080p).
  
  1. Cutting on emotion
  2. Primitive visual effects
  3. Mantle's funeral
  4. Violent time cuts
  5. All Bible bashers at heart
  6. Rage at test screenings
  7. Directing via video link

• Emily Watson's Audition - presented here is archival footage from Emily Watson's audition for Breaking the Waves, with an optional audio commentary by director Lars von Trier. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080i).

• Deleted and Extended Scenes - four deleted and extended scenes with optional audio commentary by director Lars von Trier, editor Anders Refn, and location scout Anthony Dod Mantle. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Deleted Scene 1 (4 min, 1080i).
  2. Deleted Scene 2 (3 min, 1080i).
  3. Extended Scene 1 (4 min, 1080i).
  4. Extended Scene 2 (2 min, 1080i).

• In Memory of Katrin Cartlidge - presented here is a deleted scene which was selected by director Lars von Trier to serve as a tribute to the late actor. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080i).

• Cannes Film Festival Promotional Clip - in 1996, the Cannes Film Festival requested that competing directors prepare short previews of their films to be shown on opening night. Presented here is the short promotional clip director Lars von Trier prepared for Breaking the Waves. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• Booklet - 32-page illustrated booklet featuring David Sterritt's essay "Breaking the Rules" (Mr. Sterritt is chair of the National Society of Film Critics, a film professor at Columbia University and the Maryland Institute College of Art, chief book critic of Film Quarterly, and incoming editor of the Quarterly Review of Film and Video) and an interview with director Lars von Trier conducted by Stig Bjorkman, which originally appeared in Bjorkman's 1999 book Trier on von Trier.

Breaking the Waves Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Breaking the Waves is unquestionably one of controversial Danish helmer Lars von Trier's very best films. It is incredibly bold, remarkably uncompromising, and brilliantly acted and directed. Admittedly, it is not an easy film to like, but, in my opinion, it is simply impossible not to admire. Breaking the Waves transitions to Blu-ray after an outstanding new 4K restoration that is guaranteed to impress even those who have not previously experienced it on DVD. Do not hesitate to add it to your collections, folks. It is one of the year's very best releases. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.