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Breaking the Waves

  • 1996
  • R
  • 2h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
77K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,750
1,138
Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves (1996)
Theatrical Trailer from October Films
Play trailer2:09
1 Video
92 Photos
Period DramaPsychological DramaTragedyDrama

Oilman Jan is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when Jan urges her to have sex with another.Oilman Jan is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when Jan urges her to have sex with another.Oilman Jan is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when Jan urges her to have sex with another.

  • Director
    • Lars von Trier
  • Writers
    • Lars von Trier
    • Peter Asmussen
    • David Pirie
  • Stars
    • Emily Watson
    • Stellan Skarsgård
    • Katrin Cartlidge
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    77K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,750
    1,138
    • Director
      • Lars von Trier
    • Writers
      • Lars von Trier
      • Peter Asmussen
      • David Pirie
    • Stars
      • Emily Watson
      • Stellan Skarsgård
      • Katrin Cartlidge
    • 269User reviews
    • 93Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 45 wins & 28 nominations total

    Videos1

    Breaking the Waves
    Trailer 2:09
    Breaking the Waves

    Photos92

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    + 86
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    Top Cast33

    Emily Watson
    Emily Watson
    • Bess McNeill
    Stellan Skarsgård
    Stellan Skarsgård
    • Jan Nyman
    Katrin Cartlidge
    Katrin Cartlidge
    • Dodo McNeill
    Jean-Marc Barr
    Jean-Marc Barr
    • Terry
    Adrian Rawlins
    Adrian Rawlins
    • Dr. Richardson
    Jonathan Hackett
    • Priest
    Sandra Voe
    • Mother
    Udo Kier
    Udo Kier
    • Sadistic Sailor
    Mikkel Gaup
    Mikkel Gaup
    • Pits
    Roef Ragas
    Roef Ragas
    • Pim
    Phil McCall
    Phil McCall
    • Grandfather
    Robert Robertson
    • Chairman
    Desmond Reilly
    • An Elder
    Sarah Gudgeon
    • Sybilla
    Finlay Welsh
    Finlay Welsh
    • Coroner
    • (as Finley Welsh)
    David Gallacher
    • Glasgow Doctor
    Ray Jeffries
    • Man on Bus
    Owen Kavanagh
    • Man at Lighthouse
    • Director
      • Lars von Trier
    • Writers
      • Lars von Trier
      • Peter Asmussen
      • David Pirie
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews269

    7.876.5K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Breaking the Waves' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Eliza Scanlen in Little Women (2019)
    Period Drama
    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea (2016)
    Tragedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Theatrical film debut of Emily Watson. She received an Oscar nomination and was expelled from the School of Economic Science (the alleged cult she was brought up in) for her role in this film.
    • Goofs
      The film is set in the early 1970s, but the van featured prominently in the car park and heliport scenes is a mid-1980s Freight Rover 200, formerly known as the Leyland Sherpa.
    • Quotes
      • Dodo McNeill: Not one of you has the right to consign Bess to hell!
    • Alternate versions
      The director's cut of the film, featuring explicit shots removed from the U.S. version for ratings purposes, is available on Criterion laserdisc.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper: Space Jam/The Mirror Has Two Faces/The English Patient/Breaking the Waves (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      All the Way from Memphis
      Written by Ian Hunter
      Performed by Mott the Hoople

    Top picks

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    FAQ1

    • This is 1 of 3 movies in a series, Breaking The Waves, Dancer In The Dark, and which other?

    Details

    • Release date
      • November 13, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Denmark
      • Sweden
      • France
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Iceland
      • United Kingdom
      • Finland
      • Italy
      • Belgium
      • Germany
      • Switzerland
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rompiendo las olas
    • Filming locations
      • Copenhagen, Denmark
    • Production companies
      • ARTE
      • Argus Film Produktie
      • Canal+
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • DKK 42,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,803,298
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,831,182
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 2h 33m(153 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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