Synopsis
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.
Key facts
Cast
Emily Watson, Stellan Skarsgård, Katrin Cartlidge, Jean-Marc Barr, Adrian Rawlins, Jonathan Hackett, Sandra Voe, Udo Kier
Original language
English
First release
July 5, 1996 (Denmark)
Production companies
Zentropa
Awards
Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix, Amanda Award for Best Nordic Feature Film, Silver nugget for the best foreign film, César Award for Best Foreign Film, European Film Award for Best Film, European Film Academy Critics Award
Setting
Highland
Crew
Screenplay
Lars von Trier, Peter Asmussen, David Pirie
Producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Vibeke Windeløv
Cinematography
Robby Müller
Editing
Anders Refn
Music
Joachim Holbek
Special makeup effects
Morten Jacobsen
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to write one.
Festival History
- Los Angeles Film Awards 2025
- Hallucinations Collectives 2018
- Academy Awards 1997 academy_award
- Independent Spirit Awards 1997 generic
- Cannes Film Festival 1996 generic
- Toronto International Film Festival 1996 generic
Titles
| Original title | Breaking the Waves | English |
| Québec French title | L'Amour est un pouvoir sacré | |
| Alternate title | Amor omnie |
Soundtracks
| CD | Breaking The Waves (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1996) | 13 releases, 1996-1997: Digital Media Lab, Hollywood Records, Pollyanna Records, Polydor (+1 more) |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Denmark | July 5, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | July 5, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | August 29, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Germany | October 3, 1996 |
| Theatrical | France | October 9, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Italy | October 11, 1996 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | October 18, 1996 |
| Theatrical | United States | November 13, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Greece | December 6, 1996 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | December 7, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | January 31, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | February 7, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Australia | February 27, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | September 11, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Greece | September 12, 2003 |
| Television | Netherlands | July 22, 2007 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | June 21, 2019 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | November 24, 2022 |
| Theatrical | France | July 12, 2023 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | August 4, 2023 |
| Classification | Germany | 12 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 18 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Original version (English) | ||
| Home video | Netherlands | May 12, 2009 |
Full credits
| Director | Lars von Trier |
| Cast | Emily Watson (Bess McNeill), Stellan Skarsgård (Jan Nyman), Katrin Cartlidge (Dodo McNeill), Jean-Marc Barr (Terry), Adrian Rawlins (Dr. Richardson), Jonathan Hackett (Priest), Sandra Voe (Mother), Udo Kier (Sadistic Sailor), Mikkel Gaup (Pits), Roef Ragas (Pim), Robert Robertson (Chairman), Phil McCall (Grandfather), Desmond Reilly (An Elder), Sarah Gudgeon (Sybilla), Finlay Welsh (Coroner), David Gallacher (Glasgow Doctor), Ray Jeffries (Man on Bus), Owen Kavanagh (Man at Lighthouse), Bob Docherty (Man on Boat), David Bateson (Young Sailor), Callum Cuthbertson (Radio Operator), Gavin Mitchell (Police Officer 1), Brian Smith (Police Officer 2), Iain Agnew (Praying Man 1), Charles Kearney (Praying Man 2), Steven Leach (Praying Man 3), Dorte Rømer (Nurse), Anthony J. O'Donnell (Boy 1), John Wark (Boy 2), Ronnie McKellaig (Precentor), Peter Bensted (Ugly Man (voice)), Simon Towler Jorfald (Boy in Film (voice)), Klaus Messerschmidt Juhler (Paramedic (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Lars von Trier, Peter Asmussen, David Pirie |
| Producer | Peter Aalbæk Jensen, Vibeke Windeløv |
| Executive producer | Lars Jönsson |
| Cinematography | Robby Müller |
| Editing | Anders Refn |
| Music | Joachim Holbek |
| Production design | Karl Júlíusson |
| Special makeup effects | Morten Jacobsen |
| Visual effects | Lars Kolding Andersen |
| Sound | Per Streit |
| Costumes | Manon Rasmussen |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
