Episode 8: Breaking the Waves (1996)

After penning Dogme 95, a manifesto urging filmmakers to subscribe to a particular method, Danish director Lars von Trier made Breaking the Waves, about the ways of rigidly living by a particular religious dogma.  The film follows the rules set down by von Trier, but for a select few shots that are beautifully touched up by computer imagery and graced with pop music from the 1970's. Based on a fairy tale von Trier read as a child, the story follow doe-eyed Bess (Emily Watson) as she marries oil rig worker Jan (Stellan Skarsgard) and copes with the tragedy that follows, both with the rigid religious rules laid down by the elders of her small Scottish village and the frustrations of sexuality.  The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.  The film is now available on Blu Ray and DVD via the Criterion Collection. Have a comment or question for the host?  Email Sean at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter via @1001moviesPC.