Breaking the Waves (1996)

BREAKING THE WAVES is a challenge to watch.  It's long, it's bleak, 
and it's shot in the style of a documentary, which means loads of 
lower-grade film stock and enough jittery hand-held camera work for 
*three* early-nineties Woody Allen comedies.  An hour, maybe more, 
is required to settle into this fascinating fairy tale about sex 
and spirituality.  Best Actress nominee Emily Watson plays a sim-
ple-minded Scottish soul, who marries outside her isolated village 
and finds her faith-- and her love for her husband-- tested in ways 
that threaten to brand her a sinner, a schizoid, or both.  And, as 
*I* wasn't presented with plot details beforehand, I won't reveal 
any additional information, either.  Recommended.  (Rated "R"/159 
min.)

Grade: A-

Copyright 1997 by Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: February 23, 1997