Director Lars von Trier never fails to shock and challenge one's sensibilities with his pictures. "Dancer in the Dark" and "Dogville" are two recent examples I've viewed, but this is one that will probably make you the most squeamish. In it, actress Emily Watson portrays Bess McNeil, a woman who's slavish devotion to a near comatose husband exposes her to shame and ridicule when she attempts to honor his wish that she see other men and report back to him on her sexual escapades. Though at one point, husband Jan (Stellan Skarsgård) rethinks his idea and writes a conflicted note stating "Let me die. I'm evil in head". That would have been enough, one would think, to deter Bess from proceeding with her destructive behavior. At a certain point, one must come to grips with the idea that perhaps the simple minded Bess actually does suffer from some form of mental illness to invite the seamy and destructive relationships she encounters. Why else return to the same ship to encounter a pair of thugs who violated her once before?

Another reviewer for the film here on IMDb writes, "This sounds like a grungy tale, but von Trier tells it with such humanism and focus on his themes that we never feel like he is rubbing our faces in drear." Well excuse me, but that's exactly how I felt about the picture, so you'll have to leave me out of the foregoing generalization. Personally, if one's own perverse definition of love and how it can lead to destructive behaviors is your thing, then have at it, but this film does nothing for me, demonstrating once again that von Trier's film making appeals to a segment of film goers that don't mind immersing themselves in sordid and pointless dramas. If there's one thing about the picture that's worth mentioning on a positive note, it would actually be Emily Watson's role in the story, as she arcs her character through a complex set of emotions which leaves the patient viewer drained and dispirited. If that was von Trier's objective, then I guess he succeeded.

And by the way, the near comatose husband, who's doctors insisted he would never walk again, closes out the picture hobbling around on crutches, hearing imaginary bells that aren't really there. Best not try to explain it.

Bess McNeil (Emily Watson) is a simple naive girl in a religious community in northern Scotland. It's so conservative that they don't even have church bells and women aren't allowed to talk in the services. She is an emotional simpleton marrying Danish oil-rig worker Jan Nyman (Stellan Skarsgård). He breaks his neck on a rig accident. He convinces Bess to take another lover and he directs her to ever more deviant sexual adventures. She believes that she's doing Godly work and it would help him recover.

It's a great performance from newcomer Emily Watson. She nails the wide eyed innocence of her simpleton character and her almost schizophrenic exchanges with god. The only problem I have with the movie is director Lars von Trier's indie camera style. I can live with the slow quiet pacing. I don't mind anything but the wild quick camera movements. The shaky camera worn me out and it made me dizzy. I wonder if the movie would be better with edits and smoother slower camera work.

Chapter 1 – Bess Gets Married: In a backward religious village in the north of Scotland, the naive, immature, pure, susceptive, repressed and emotionally unstable Bess McNeill (Emily Watson) gets married with Danish worker Jan Nyman (Stellan Skarsgård) that works in a drilling rig. Chapter 2 – Life with Jan: Bess has wonderful days of honeymoon with Jan, making love everywhere with her beloved husband. Chapter 3 – Life Alone: Jan has to embark to work in the oil-rig and Bess miss him. She prays to God to send Jan back home. There is a blowout in the drill deck and Jan is seriously injured, becoming completely paralyzed and the doctor diagnoses that he would never walk again. Chapter 4 – Jan's Illness: Bess talks to God and blames herself for the accident of her husband. When Jan tries to convince her to have sex with other men, Bess gets disturbed the same way when her brother and Dodo's husband died and she was interned. But she believes she has a connection with Jan through spiritual love and the might power of love guided by God will heal Jan. She decides to prostitute to help Jan with tragic consequences along Chapter 5 – Doubt; Chapter 6 – Faith; Chapter 7 – Bess' Sacrifice; and Chapter 8 – The Funeral.

"Breaking the Waves" is a heartbreaking and cruel tale of intolerance, faith and unconditional love. The sweet and lovely Emily Watson has a stunning top-notch performance in the role of a infantile and good woman that believes in the power of love. She is able to transmit emotions through the closes of the face and eyes of her beautiful character. Lars von Trier is amazing as usual and among my favorite contemporary directors ever. His nihilist story with the destruction of moral and religious values has a surprising conclusion with redemption to love and spirit that has no boundary and prevails. Stellan Skarsgård and Katrin Cartlidge complete the lead cast with magnificent performances.

The music score is another plus of this movie. The introduction of each chapter uses a classic from the 70's, with "All the Way From Memphis"; "Blowing in the Wind"; "Pipe Major Donald Maclean"; "In a Broken Dream"; "Cross Eyed Mary"; "I Did What I Did for Maria"; "Virginia Plain"; "Whiter Shade of Pale"; "Hot Love"; "Suzanne"; "Love Lies Bleeding"; "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"; "Whisky In the Jam"; "Child in Time"; "Your Song"; "Siciliana"; "Gay Gordons"; "Scotland the Brave"; "Barren Rock of Aden"; "Happy Landing".

I do not like to write extensive reviews but Lars von Trier usually shakes my emotions and in the end I write more than I wished. In Brazil, this feature was released on VHS by Flashstar distributor. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Ondas do Destino" ("Waves of the Destiny")