Czech immigrant Selma (pop singer Björk, pictured) lives with her son Gene in Washington State, sharing the house owned by policeman Bill (David Morse) and his wife Linda (Cara Seymour). Working in a nearby factory, Selma is saving to pay for an operation which will save her son from hereditary blindness, so when Bill asks her for a loan to prevent repossession, she refuses.
While she is working, Bill discovers his tenant's life savings, and robs her. When confronted, he claims to have been the victim. Selma is incensed, and attempts to retrieve her money, unaware that what happens next will determine her fate and change the lives of everyone she knows...
Lars Von Trier's tale mixes magical musical numbers with capital punishment in a surreal journey led by a majestic performance from Björk. The novelty casting is vindicated by the singer's depth and range, which helps gloss over the more outrageous liberties of plot to make Selma's plight captivating.
Preview courtesy of Channel 4
Dancer in the Dark is a Film programme that first aired in 2000 and has been classified a 15 certificate.
