MovieChat Forums > Breaking the Waves (1996) Discussion > The movie's philosophy was illogical

The movie's philosophy was illogical

posted 10 years ago by TonyVerras
5 replies | jump to latest

The first half of the film makes such an effective and intimate argument for the beauty and power of sex between a husband and wife, that it undermines that second half of the film. If von Trier really believes in the spirituality of lovemaking, how can he find Jan's salvation through Bess sexually debasing herself? The idea might have been plausible if Jan asked her to find another man who she could truly love, so that he would know that she was actually "making love" and not being systematically and willfully raped, but this is not the case. As it stands, his request is perverse, cruel, and twisted.

But because von Trier is determined to make Bess into a Christ figure, he has to make her suffer for her love. What destroys the analogy is that mankind did not ask Christ to suffer for mankind. Christianity is based on the notion that God offered Jesus to suffer and die for us, not for God. In "Breaking the Waves," Jan asks Bess to suffer for him, and she does, for him. Therefore, she is simply fulfilling his selfish desires, thus diminishing his ultimate redemption. If God had asked Bess to suffer in order to save Jan, the analogy would have been more complete.

[–] oldcapecod-425-966198 10 years ago

I think one of the best features of this film is that it is open to interpretation. The film is heavy on variations in beliefs and, indeed, Bess is cast out of her church - the church with no bells. Well, apparently, her "church" did have bells. Is it really God? Is it some sort of other force? Is it a hallucination? The film does not pretend to provide definitive explanations. Purposefully.

After all, when God speaks to Bess, it's with Bess' own voice. To me, that's Bess talking to Bess - not God talking to Bess. She's not the most emotionally stable person we've met. Others, undoubtedly, see it differently. They think this is how God talks to Bess.

Even the very idea that she suffered for Jan's benefit can be seen as an extremely horrible series of coincidences. Had Jan's prognosis been better at the start, none of this would have happened. Or was it really Bess' impatient plea to God? And was this her punishment and restitution? Somewhere along the line, God has nothing to do with anything. Some things just come down to a matter of people making choices.

However we see it, we all find Bess endearing, and are heartbroken about her life, no matter what our religious/non-religious beliefs or our own interpretation of the events in this film. That's actually quite beautiful.

[–] spookyrat1 7 years ago

... we all find Bess endearing, and are heartbroken about her life, no matter what our religious/non-religious beliefs or our own interpretation of the events in this film.

You'd hope most people would see it this way.🐭

[–] Drooch (5333) 3 years ago

I found Bess to be scary tbh, and actually quite selfish, especially when she abandoned Jan in the house. I felt for her when she was horribly mistreated at the end because it was like beating up a retard, but I can’t say I found her ‘endearing’.

[–] 7 years ago

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[–] 7 years ago

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