Lars von Trier Breaking the Waves

(aka "Amor omnie")

directed by Lars von Trier
Denmark / Sweden / France / Netherlands / Norway 1996

For those who aren’t aware of it, Lars von Trier is obsessed with Carl Dreyer. He views him as a father figure, his role model, his favorite film is “Ordet”, he used Henning Bendtsen as cinematographer on “Epidemic” and “Europa”, he bought the suit Dreyer wore at the opening of “Ordet” and wore it at the opening of “Europa” (and again in “Riget”) and finally, during an interview he announced “I am a Dreyer guy”.

Like “Ordet”, so does “Breaking the Waves” depict the conflict between dark religion, which preaches the fear of God, and light religion, which believes in the love of God, and Lars von Trier very wisely doesn’t question religion. Instead he employs the conflict as a tool by which to examine how love and goodness, a golden heart, leads to self-sacrifice and ultimately the martyrdom of Bess. Speaking of martyrdom, Lars von Trier made cinematographer Robby Müller shot Bess with same gaze as Falconetti in Dreyer’s “La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc”. As much he is a “Dreyer guy”, as much is “Breaking the Waves” a “Dreyer film”.

But underneath this camouflage of allusion and homage, is a perverse love story, portraying the transformation of Bess from shy innocence to self-sacrificing sinner, thereby attacking our conventions of normality and goodness. Only Lars von Trier would dare to turn something as beautiful as innocent love into a perverse sadomasochistic relationship. This is a stroke of genius. By placing religion in the background, no one questions blind faith in religion, but instead asks, why Bess seeks humiliation and personal degradation to satisfy the wishes of Jan. Thru Bess, Lars von Trier is setting self imposed slavery, either by religion or by love, up against each other, thereby examining the conflict of dark vs. light religion, and ultimately showing us, that there is a God, that he is a pretty decent guy, who understands us more than we give him credit.

“Breaking the Waves” is the first film by Lars von Trier where the technical side doesn’t feel intrusive on the story. Where his earlier films became more and more constrained by form, “Breaking the Waves” demonstrates a carefree freedom, with handheld camera and editing defying rules of lines, visual continuity, space and perspective. Lars von Trier always sets up rules for this and that, and while “Breaking the Waves” is as controlled as for instance the mise en scene of “Europa”, if not more, it never demands attention for its own sake. The same can be said about the acting, which is instinctive and natural, like the characters are being “caught in the act”. This approach to cinema has since become synonymous of the directing and films by Lars von Trier and in retrospect we can say, that “Breaking the Waves” was the first film, where Lars von Trier was a master and hence fully deserves the label “Masterpiece”. out of

Henrik Sylow

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 1996 - Cannes Film Festival - France

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Paramount - Region 2- PAL vs. Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Sandrew Metronome (Denmark) - Region 0 - PAL

Big thanks to Ole Kofoed and to Vincent BOUCHÉ for the Screen Captures!

(Paramount - Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Sandrew Metronome - Region All - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

Distribution
Paramount

Region 2 - PAL

Artisan

Region 1 - NTSC
Sandrew Metronome
Region All Denmark - PAL

Runtime 2:32:22 (4% PAL speedup) 2:38:15 2:32:15 (4% PAL speedup)

Video
2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.62 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

2.23:1 Original Aspect Ratio

Bitrate: 5.6 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
2.23:1 Original Aspect Ratio

Bitrate: 6.51 mb/s

16X9 enhanced
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:
Paramount R2

Bitrate:
Artisan

Bitrate:
Sandrew

Audio English and French DD2.0 Surround English Dolby Digital 2.0
English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Italian Dub DD 2.0

Subtitles French None Danish, Danish for the hearing impaired, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Italian, Greek, French, German, Portuguese, Romanian, Czech, Hebrew and none.

Features Release Information:
Studio: Sandrew Metronome
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.23:1

Edition Details:
• Photo Gallery

DVD Release Date: 15 March 2000
Amaray case

Chapters 10

Release Information:
Studio: Artisan Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen Letterboxed - 2.234:1

Edition Details:

4:3 Trailer.(3:18)
Production notes.

DVD Release Date: July 25, 2000
Keep Case

Chapters 40

Release Information:
Studio: Sandrew Metronome
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.23:1

Edition Details:

Selected commentary with Lars von Trier, editor Anders Refn - Interviewed by Dod Mantle (In English) (Total 44:42).
Excerpts from the documentary 'Tranceformer - A Film about Lars von Trier' (17:27).
Interview with Adrian Rawlins (2:09).
Casting of Emily Watson (with optional commentary) (2:05).
In Memomory of Katrin Cartlidge (Deleted scene) (1:11).
Lars von Trier promo clip - Made for the Cannes Festival 1996 (0:15).
2 deleted scenes (with optional commentary) (3:34)(2:53).
2 extended scenes (with optional commentary) (3:18) (1:32).
Trailers for Dogville, Europa, Breaking the Waves, The Kingdom, Dancer in the Dark and The Idiots.
2-DVD set.
Extras are subtitled in English (When there is non-English spoken), Italian, Greek and Portuguese.

DVD Release Date: December 2, 2003
Keep Case

Chapters 20

NOTE: The Danish release has (as shown in theatres): Davie Bowie's "Life on Mars" on the last "inter-title" while all other old video/DVD-releases (including Criterion's Laserdisc) have Elton John's "Your Song" - so this should be the first release that have the original soundtrack. The Bowie song was removed because of problems with song rights.

Comments: ADDITION (Paramount Region 2-July 04) - the Paramount R2 is hazy but uncensored. The Artisan is still the sharpest image. The Sandrew still has the best audio and extras.
********
Well, we are not really looking at the same film here with the Artisan being censored, but as far as transfers go... they are about even. Same colors, no cropping, aspect ratio maintained. I see a tiny smidgen of green in the Sandrew/Metronome release as well as it being slightly brighter, but the mere fact of its anamorphic stature, better extras and for the boosted 5.1 sound. Widescreen TV owners will notice quicker, but the Region 2 is the way to go.
The audio commentary on the Sandrew/Metronome DVD is below any standard. Not only of very short duration to begin with, but it is spread out over 6 chapters, making it more like footnotes, where Anthony Dod Mantle and Anders Refn add some depth, and where Lars von Trier rarely is serious.

- Gary Tooze.

DVD Menus

(Paramount - Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Sandrew Metronome - Region All - PAL - RIGHT)

The Artisan DVD is censored. This is from the Paramount (first) Sandrew Metronome (second) at 18:10

This is as close as the Artisan gets. From Imdb:" The director's cut of then film, featuring explicit shots removed from the US version for ratings purposes, is available on Criterion laserdisc". This is incorrect as the original version isn't a 'directors cut' just the original uncut version.

Screen Captures

(Paramount - Region 2- PAL TOP vs Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Sandrew Metronome - Region All - PAL - BOTTOM)

In this capture the Sandrew image has been reduced to 800 wide, while the Artisan is shown in its native resolution.

(Paramount - Region 2- PAL TOP vs Artisan - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Sandrew Metronome - Region All - PAL - BOTTOM)

Hit Counter

Image:	Artisan for sharpness - Sandrew Metronome for uncensored
Sound:	Sandrew Metronome
Extras:	Sandrew Metronome
Menu:	Sandrew Metronome

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Paramount Region 2 - PAL	Artisan Region 1 - NTSC	Sandrew Metronome Region All Denmark - PAL
Runtime	2:32:22 (4% PAL speedup)	2:38:15	2:32:15 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.62 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	2.23:1 Original Aspect Ratio Bitrate: 5.6 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	2.23:1 Original Aspect Ratio Bitrate: 6.51 mb/s 16X9 enhanced PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Paramount R2
Bitrate: Artisan
Bitrate: Sandrew
Audio	English and French DD2.0 Surround	English Dolby Digital 2.0	English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Italian Dub DD 2.0
Subtitles	French	None	Danish, Danish for the hearing impaired, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Italian, Greek, French, German, Portuguese, Romanian, Czech, Hebrew and none.
Features	Release Information: Studio: Sandrew Metronome Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.23:1 Edition Details: • Photo Gallery DVD Release Date: 15 March 2000 Amaray case Chapters 10	Release Information: Studio: Artisan Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen Letterboxed - 2.234:1 Edition Details: 4:3 Trailer.(3:18) Production notes. DVD Release Date: July 25, 2000 Keep Case Chapters 40	Release Information: Studio: Sandrew Metronome Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.23:1 Edition Details: Selected commentary with Lars von Trier, editor Anders Refn - Interviewed by Dod Mantle (In English) (Total 44:42). Excerpts from the documentary 'Tranceformer - A Film about Lars von Trier' (17:27). Interview with Adrian Rawlins (2:09). Casting of Emily Watson (with optional commentary) (2:05). In Memomory of Katrin Cartlidge (Deleted scene) (1:11). Lars von Trier promo clip - Made for the Cannes Festival 1996 (0:15). 2 deleted scenes (with optional commentary) (3:34)(2:53). 2 extended scenes (with optional commentary) (3:18) (1:32). Trailers for Dogville, Europa, Breaking the Waves, The Kingdom, Dancer in the Dark and The Idiots. 2-DVD set. Extras are subtitled in English (When there is non-English spoken), Italian, Greek and Portuguese. DVD Release Date: December 2, 2003 Keep Case Chapters 20 NOTE: The Danish release has (as shown in theatres): Davie Bowie's "Life on Mars" on the last "inter-title" while all other old video/DVD-releases (including Criterion's Laserdisc) have Elton John's "Your Song" - so this should be the first release that have the original soundtrack. The Bowie song was removed because of problems with song rights.