Theo Estes The Spool Oct 8, 2020

Dancer in the Dark critiques the relentless optimism of mid-century movie musicals, but it also puts the American cultural narrative under the microscope.

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Michael J. Casey Boulder Weekly Jul 25, 2020 4/5

Björk plays Selma, a Czech immigrant suffering from a degenerative eye disorder. It's a rare, hereditary disease, and it'll steal her sight but not the song in her heart.

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Ellie Lucas From the Front Row Aug 5, 2019 4/4

A sweeping denunciation of the myth of the American dream-the idealized America put forth by escapist Hollywood fare.

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David Ansen Newsweek Mar 7, 2018

Dancer is like no other movie around. Shot in bleached-out video colors in rough, hand-held style, the film is at once aggressively modern and deliberately, melodramatically, old-fashioned.

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Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Sep 7, 2011 A

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Apr 7, 2011 B+

Denmark's enfant terrible Lars von Trier finally won the Camme Palme d'Or for this postmodern deconstructive musical featuring a stunning performance by Bjork.

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Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Sep 25, 2010 4/4

Habitually galling director Lars von Trier's musical is a black-swan genre rarity - a 1960s-set sledgehammer to Broadway and Hollywood's insistence on sunshiny endings in golden-era musicals about Nazis, murder and suicide.

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Oct 26, 2009 A-

Everything about Bjork and Dancer in the Dark is enigmatic in an uncomfortable dissecting way that shows beauty in the crudest way, and crudeness in the complexity of advanced social mores.

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Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review Aug 7, 2008 2/5

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Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Sep 12, 2007 6/10

It is not pleasing to watch, by any conceivable definition of that word.

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Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Jul 29, 2007 A+

Even without the musical numbers, von Trier has given us a compelling story with original characters.

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Steven Snyder Zertinet Movies Oct 1, 2005 4/4

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Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews Apr 9, 2005 A-

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Jeffrey Overstreet JeffreyOverstreet.com (Ghost.io) Dec 6, 2004 B

I was devastated by it. What bothers me is this: It is the easiest thing in the world to do... move people by destroying something beautiful.

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Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Jun 5, 2003 3.5/4

Von Trier is vicious when it comes to milking the melodrama.

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Susan Tavernetti Palo Alto Weekly May 20, 2003 4/4

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Margaret A. McGurk Cincinnati Enquirer Feb 7, 2003 3/4

Though flawed, Dancer in the Dark is a worthy addition to the filmography of Mr. von Trier.

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Nick Davis Nick's Flick Picks Jan 10, 2003 A

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Tom Meek Film Threat Dec 8, 2002 4.5/5

The songs are all written and performed flawlessly by Bjork. And not only can the pixie goddess sing and dance, she can also act.

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