8.0
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Breaking the Waves (1996)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Viewer Rating
Rating: 8.0
Overview
In a small, conservative Scottish village, an oilman is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when he urges her to have sex with another.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Bias Dimensions
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Christianity: Negative
Overview
In a small, conservative Scottish village, an oilman is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when he urges her to have sex with another.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
The film's central focus is on the existential and spiritual dimensions of extreme faith and self-sacrifice within a rigid religious community, rather than promoting or critiquing a specific political ideology. Its narrative explores these themes with profound ambiguity, preventing a clear alignment with either left or right political discourse.
The movie features traditional casting with a predominantly white European ensemble, consistent with its setting. However, its narrative strongly critiques patriarchal religious authority and the subjugation of women within a rigid community, explicitly portraying traditional male power structures in a negative light.
Secondary
The film portrays a rigid Calvinist Christian community as oppressive, judgmental, and ultimately destructive to the protagonist, Bess. While Bess's personal faith is depicted with a tragic purity, the narrative highlights how the community's strictures and lack of compassion contribute to her extreme suffering and demise, offering no significant counterbalancing positive portrayal of the institution itself.
Breaking the Waves does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The narrative focuses exclusively on a heterosexual relationship and the protagonist's profound religious devotion and self-sacrifice.
The film "Breaking the Waves" does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes. The narrative focuses on other dramatic elements, primarily the protagonist's religious faith, self-sacrifice, and complex relationships within a conservative community. Therefore, there is no portrayal to evaluate regarding transsexual identity.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Breaking the Waves is an original screenplay by Lars von Trier. All characters were created specifically for this film, meaning there is no prior source material or historical record from which a character's gender could have been established and subsequently changed.
Breaking the Waves is an original film with characters created specifically for this production. There is no prior source material, historical record, or previous installment to establish a canonical race for any character that could then be altered.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.8
7.5
Critic Ratings
8.5
8.2
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