Dancer in the Dark


2h 20m 2000

Brief Synopsis

Selma is a Czech immigrant, a single mother working in 1960s rural America. Her salvation lies in her imagination and her passion for music, specifically, the all-singing, all-dancing numbers found in classic Hollywood musicals. She is continually distracted by the rhythm of the presses and the clat

Film Details

Also Known As
Bailar en la oscuridad, Bailarina en la oscuridad
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Drama
Foreign
Music
Musical
Period
Release Date
2000
Production Company
Jens Georg Hansen
Distribution Company
FINE LINE/FINE LINE FEATURES
Location
Sweden; Seattle, Washington, USA; Trollhaettan Studios, Film I, Gothenburg, Sweden; Denmark

Technical Specs

Duration
2h 20m

Synopsis

Selma is a Czech immigrant, a single mother working in 1960s rural America. Her salvation lies in her imagination and her passion for music, specifically, the all-singing, all-dancing numbers found in classic Hollywood musicals. She is continually distracted by the rhythm of the presses and the clattering of the steel sinks and begins to imagine that she and her co-workers are in a musical. Selma harbors a sad secret: she is quickly losing her eyesight and her beloved son Gene stands to suffer the same fate if she can't put away enough money to secure him an operation. When a desperate neighbor falsely accuses Selma of stealing his savings, the drama of her life escalates to tragedy.

Cast

Catherine Deneuve

David Morse

Jorge Munoz-escalante

Lasse Eckstrom

Katarina Winberg

Bjorn Ahlander

Stig Narger

Hanne Wolsted Olsen

Andrew Lucre

Kenneth Fogel

Anders-peter Torsleff Hansen

Emilie Bendz

Peter Persson

Udo Kier

Rolf Hepp

Ann Crosset

Julian J Thomas

Anna David

Miriam Karina Sorensen

Birgitte Skands

Vincent Paterson

Cara Seymour

Fredrik Borgesson

Karin Nedergaard

Katrine Falkenberg

Jacob Stage

Bobo Eriksson

Vladica Kostic

Carl Johan De Neergaard

Therese Andersson

Karolina Heiskanen

Peter Engberg Jorgensen

Stefan Clarin

Helen Bach

Therese Graversen

Jens Roed

Thea Gambill

Paprika Steen

Sheldon Litt

Helen Dohlmann

Cristian Valle

Sharlene Sheppard

Melinda Young Langeland

Ami Eklof-annell

Jens Johansson

Carol Linda Nielsen

Poul Erik Christensen

Hakan Johnson

Alex Mouro

Anders Thorhauge

Joel Grey

Tony Jacob

Michael Flessas

Mattias Carlsson

Annette Lindholm

Peter Friis Nielsen

Lars Michael Dinesen

Stellan Skarsgård

Joacim Hedman

John Randolph Jones

Matts Hellgren

Erik Drugge

Al Agami

Marianne Lipka

Niklas Karlsson

Katrine Engberg

Thomas Agerholm

Allan Gyldenkaerne

Niklas Berglind

John Martinus

Leif Agrer

Anders Tarneberg

Jens Albinus

Mette Berggreen

Eli Stalhand

Gregor Michaj

Rebekka Lund-larsen

Alexander Arli

Britt Bendixen

Anna Norberg

Nina Brolin Nielsen

Anna Rosenberg

Claus Berenhard

Thomas Kirk

Peter Stormare

Johan Erixzon

Siobhan Fallon Hogan

Thomas Bendixen

Zeljko Ivanek

Warren Crooks

Frederik Mondrup

Ed Hickok

Tommi Salmela

Linda Myrberg

Mogens Eggermann

Luke Reilly

Rikke Lylloff Madsen

Noah Lazarus

Nick Wolf

Elin Johansson

Johanna Lindholm

Lene Lovendahl

Sandra Ostermann Cardichon

Signe Fabricus

Rene Moeglin

Edvin Karsson

Henrick Uldall

Reathel Bean

Tobias Walbom

Fernando Molin

Svend Christian Bunch-nielsen

Erik Dammann

Timm Zimmermann

Meriem Zouane

Ivan Valencia

Johan Regnell

Diana G L Watson

Niclas Bendixen

Jean-marc Barr

Susanne Bruening

Tonia Pedersen

Katharina Duarte

John Bruun

Jesper Caron

Ana Christie Brostrom

Eric Voge

Jesper Krygen Henriksen

Nikolaj Viktor

T J Rizzo

Warren Spears

Grethe Sondergaard

Per-anders Gustafsson

Bo Westerholm

Sean-michael Smith

Anthony Ajoise Olufemi Jacob

Jorgen Fredriksson

Crew

Bjork Aabech

Office Runner

George Abeyta

On-Set Dresser

Klara Adolphson

Office Runner

Anna Malini Ahlberg

Production Coordinator

Danie Ahlquist

Production Assistant

Michele Ahren

Makeup

Khalil Alharbiti

Production Assistant

Dag Alveberg

Production

Gorm Andersen

Carpenter

Kristian Eidnes Andersen

Sound Editor

Sedsel Andersen

Continuity

Henric Andersson

Video Assist/Playback

Mattias Andersson

Production Assistant

Mats Arehn

Production

Jonas Alexander Arnby

Props Assistant

Dragsted Schluter Aros

Production

Christine Aster Crone

Office Runner

Erkki Astla

Production

Rene Axelgaard

Carpenter

Anders Barlebo

Unit Manager

Christine Bechameil

Set Decorator

Jean Roch Bechameil

Other

Mark Bell

Other

Mark Bell

Song

Lisa Berg

Production Assistant

Frank Berger

Gaffer

Mette Berggreen

Consultant

Mette Berggreen

Choreographer

Lotta Bergman

Props Assistant

Cecilia Bergquist

Production Assistant

Derek Birkett

Special Thanks To

Majka Bjornager

Assistant

Susie Bjornvad

Wardrobe

Peter Blanch

Office Runner

Mads Peter Bliddal

Office Runner

Laura Bobovski

Assistant

Laura Bobovski

Casting Associate

Jakob Bonfils

Grip

Yan Buchanan

Carpenter

Lorie Buob

Driver

Mary Buri

Props

Nico Case

On-Set Dresser

Lars Christensen

Special Thanks To

Caroline Sascha Cogez

Assistant Director

Morten Constantineanu Bak

Titles

Linda Daae

Continuity

Anja Dahl

Makeup Assistant

Christer Dahlman

Carpenter

Donnel Dawson

Security

Lars Dela

Technical Advisor

Philip Dencker

Assistant Editor

Catherine Deneuve

Song Performer

Isabelle Devaux

Other

Anthony Dod Mantle

Camera Operator

Jessica Dodge

Scenic Artist

Ivan Dudynsky

Editor

Anne Dujacich

Assistant Production Coordinator

Camilla Horup Ebling

Assistant Editor

Bente Eckmann

Special Thanks To

Pétur Einarsson

Sound Editor

Christine Ekstrand

Post-Production Assistant

Mia Elming

Other

Elin Erikchsen

Production

Fredrik Eriksson

Props Assistant

Friederik Eriksson

Props Assistant

Roger Faires

Location Manager

Profa Farver

Special Thanks To

Matt Fields

Other

Anne Hovad Fischer

Assistant Editor

Christian Forsman

Caterer

Malte Forssell

Line Producer

Annika Foster

Production Assistant

Geoff Foster

Other

Norway Foundation For Audiovisual Production

Producer

Jonas Frederiksen

Production Associate

Fridrik Th=r Fridriksson

Associate Producer

Edvard Friis-moller

Camera

Marleine Gabriel

Production Assistant

Peter Garde

Advisor

Tom Garris

Driver

François Gedigier

Editor

Ben Georgiades

Other

Cedric Gerard

Makeup

Tomas Gislason

Consultant

Finn Gjerdrum

Associate Producer

Mogens Glad

Associate Producer

Filmstiftung Nordrhein-westfalen Gmbh

Production

Anders Goransson

Set Decorator

Joanne Gordon

Office Runner

Jacob Gottschau

Researcher

Anja Grafers

Associate Producer

Peter Grant

Art Director

Simone Grau

Props

Sanne Gravfort

Makeup

Joel Grey

Song Performer

Isobel Griffiths

Music Contractor

Tony Grob

Line Producer

Gudmundur Sveinsson Gronli

Props

Rikard Gronvall

Set Decorator

Louise Grosell

Production Coordinator

Hans Gunnarson

Construction Coordinator

Stig Gunther

Stunts

Murray Gutterson

Special Thanks To

Harry Guttormsen

Production

Jeanine Haghe

Production

Nils-gunnar Hallberg

Set Decorator

Christel Hammer

Other

Oscar Hammerstein Ii

Song

Jan Hansen

Carpenter

Jens Georg Hansen

Production Insurance

Kenneth Hansen

Office Runner

Tommy Hansen

Carpenter

Thomas Hanslep

Props

Peter Nicolas Harton

Video Assist/Playback

Kristen Hasseries

Production Assistant

Torleif Hauge

Associate Producer

Sebastian Hedin

Caterer

Andrea Helgadottir

Assistant

Cecilia Sille Hersby

Art Department Coordinator

Nicola Hewitt

Set Decorator

Camilla Hjersing

Office Runner

Peter Hjorth

Technical Director

Peter Hjorth

Editor

Siobhan Fallon Hogan

Song Performer

Joakim Hoglund

Unit Manager

V/hummer Hojmark

Stunts

Carsten Holst

Assistant

Kerstin Hopstadius

Other

Lene Irgens

Post-Production Supervisor

Lars J÷nsson

Co-Executive Producer

Anders Jacobsen

Props Assistant

Lars Jacobsen

Carpenter

Morten Jacobsen

Makeup

Pia Janols

Accountant

Anne Jensen

Sound Editor

Malene Choi Jensen

Office Runner

Peter Aalbaek Jensen

Executive Producer

Soren Jochumsen

Carpenter

Joga Johansdottir

Assistant

Niklas Johansson

Production Assistant

Veltry Johnson

Researcher

Kjeld Jorgensen

Other

Morten Buch Jorgensen

Set Decorator

Karl Juliusson

Production Designer

Thomas Karlsen

Props

Avy Kaufman

Casting

Amy Kaufmann

Researcher

Tero Kaukomaa

Associate Producer

Rune T Kidde

Special Thanks To

Cilie Kirkebjerg

Office Runner

Charlotte Kirkeby

Production Coordinator

Per Kirkeby

Other

Anna Knochenhauer

Production Assistant

Ann Koj

Accountant

Cecilie Kolpin

Production Assistant

Peter Kongsted

Carpenter

David Koskas

Photography

Dieter Kosslick

Other

Claus Krainer

Sound

Eric Kress

Director Of Photography

Simon Kristiansen

Assistant Editor

Lasse Krugermeier

Carpenter

Jesper Kurlandsky

Production Assistant

Jan Kybert

Other

John Lambert

Researcher

Bruno Langiano

Foley

Carsten Larsen

Carpenter

Ian Bach Larsen

Assistant Editor

Palle Larsen

Carpenter

Thomas Larsen

Camera Operator

Oskar Larsson

Grip

Line Druedal Leonhardt

Office Runner

Sandrine Lesenechal

Post-Production

Earl Lewis

Costumes

Christian Lie

Carpenter

Hans Linde

Special Thanks To

Poul Erik Lindeborg

Associate Producer

Lena Lindh

Other

Joseph Long

Production Assistant

Leanna Long

Driver

Jesper Lorents

Property Master

Pete Lorentzon

Carpenter

Henrik Lovgren

Video Assist/Playback

Yvan Lucas

Color

Morten Vig Lund

Other

Anders Lunde

Property Master

Tommy Malm

Production Assistant

Andreas Martinsen

Office Runner

Paul Mason

On-Set Dresser

Vincent Mendoza

Song

Jan Misiarz

Special Thanks To

Liselotte Moller

Set Decorator

Ursula Riis Moller Nielsen

Set Decorator

Nicolaj Monberg

Assistant Editor

Jette Katina Morgensen

Set Decorator

David Morse

Song Performer

Kenneth Mortensen

Carpenter

Robby Muller

Director Of Photography

Sanne Munster Swedensen

Office Runner

Julien Naudin

Foley

Film Details

Also Known As
Bailar en la oscuridad, Bailarina en la oscuridad
MPAA Rating
Genre
Crime
Drama
Foreign
Music
Musical
Period
Release Date
2000
Production Company
Jens Georg Hansen
Distribution Company
FINE LINE/FINE LINE FEATURES
Location
Sweden; Seattle, Washington, USA; Trollhaettan Studios, Film I, Gothenburg, Sweden; Denmark

Technical Specs

Duration
2h 20m

Award Nominations

Best Song

2000

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Winner of the 2000 award for Outstanding Dramatic Musical Performance (Bjork) from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

Winner of the 2000 Bodil Award for Best Actress (Bjork).

Winner of the 2000 Golden Satellite Award for Best Original Song ("I've Seen It All" - Lars Von Trier and Sjon Sigurdsson) from the International Press Academy.

Winner of the 2000 Goya Award for Best European Film.

Winner of the awards for Best Film, Best Actress (Bjork) and the Audience Awards for Best Director and Best Actress (Bjork) at the 2000 European Film Awards (EFA).

Winner of two awards, including the Palme d'Or for Best Film and Best Actress (Bjork), at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.

Released in United States Fall September 23, 2000

Released in United States October 6, 2000

Expanded Release in United States October 20, 2000

Released in United States 2000

Released in United States July 2000

Released in United States August 2000

Released in United States February 2001

Shown at New York Film Festival (Opening Night) September 22 - October 9, 2000.

Shown at Vancouver International Film Festival (Closing Night) September 22 - October 5, 2000.

Shown at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival July 5-15, 2000.

Shown at Edinburgh International Film Festival (Opening Night) August 13-27, 2000.

Shown at Fest 2001: Belgrade International Film Festival February 1-10, 2001.

Film was shot using the Sony DXC C30ws and Sony DSR-PD 100 digital video cameras.

Fine Line Features reportedly paid $5 million for the domestic rights to this project.

Began shooting May 14, 1999.

Completed shooting August 1999.

The soundtrack is available through Elektra records.

100 digital cameras were used for the seven musical dance sequences.

Trust Film Sales is the Swedish sales company owned by Zentropa and Memfis.

Released in United States Fall September 23, 2000 (NY)

Released in United States October 6, 2000 (Los Angeles)

Expanded Release in United States October 20, 2000

Released in United States 2000 (Shown at New York Film Festival (Opening Night) September 22 - October 9, 2000.)

Released in United States 2000 (Shown at Vancouver International Film Festival (Closing Night) September 22 - October 5, 2000.)

Released in United States July 2000 (Shown at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival July 5-15, 2000.)

Released in United States August 2000 (Shown at Edinburgh International Film Festival (Opening Night) August 13-27, 2000.)

Released in United States February 2001 (Shown at Fest 2001: Belgrade International Film Festival February 1-10, 2001.)

Winner of the 2000 award for Best Cinematic Breakthrough (Bjork) from the Online Film Critics Society.