My first Lars von Trier movie and this absolutely wrecked me. The emotional intensity is insane, and Bess’s devotion never feels pretty or comforting, just painful and tragic in the worst way. Von Trier’s rough style, chapter structure, and weird mix of realism and spiritual symbolism make it feel less like a normal drama and more like some kind of emotional punishment. And Emily Watson is ridiculous here ; it does not feel like a debut at all. The film is brutal because it refuses to give easy answers about faith, desire, goodness, or love. paradoxically a happy ending.
My first Lars von Trier movie and this absolutely wrecked me. The emotional intensity is insane, and Bess’s devotion never feels pretty or comforting, just painful and tragic in the worst way. Von Trier’s rough style, chapter structure, and weird mix of realism and spiritual symbolism make it feel less like a normal drama and more like some kind of emotional punishment. And Emily Watson is ridiculous here ; it does not feel like a debut at all. The film is brutal because it refuses to give easy answers about faith, desire, goodness, or love. paradoxically a happy ending.
