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Since I started watching film in a much different way, and different films for that matter, about five years ago I have heard the name Lars von Trier quite a bit. I have been reluctant to jump into his films. The words nihilism, bleak, and even pornographic have come up in discussions I have heard. So when my homeboy Swan suggested that I put this in my faith lineup this year naturally it went right to the front of the class because forget my reluctance I trust my homeboy. I couldn't be more happy that he did as this film is excellent. I will start with the performances of Watson and Skarsgard as both were top notch. The setup of their relationship was great. I love the slow roll into Bess's psyche. Perfect approach and with me not knowing anything going in I really enjoyed trying to figure out where her character was coming from and wondering how it would progress. Jan's demeanor with her is great to watch. You can feel his love is pure. Maybe he is attracted to her because of her innocence but that doesn't make it any less genuine. Likewise her love for him is unconditional. There is a sense that this man is different than anyone else she has met in her world. Not only is he not binding her to any kind of rules like the others in her life but he seems to be the first person to give her any agency of her own at all. The introduction to this relationship is key because it is what propels the story when things go to a much darker place. The setup is great and shows what a great story teller Von Trier is.
The depiction of sex in the film is quite frank but what I find interesting is it is far from titillating. There is a frankness about it that I find refreshing compared to the depiction of it in most other films and television. That also informs the viewer as the story moves forward because as Bess becomes more of a sexual creature we need to see this as a duty she is performing rather than a self-gratifying experience. Von Trier also treats organized religion in its most base form. Very legalistic and matter of fact. This is not the nuanced approach I would normally hope for but again it works very well for the story telling. The narrative works so well because we see Bess as a very repressed individual. It gives us insight into her psyche that informs her motivations throughout.
I will admit that for the middle portion of this film I had a hard time figuring out where Von Trier was headed thematically with the film. It never bothered me because I was intrigued but I did wonder what conclusions he was going to end up having me draw from this couple. The first question mark is what were Jan's intentions once he asks Bess to step out on him. My first inclination was that he was like a mother bird trying to push her out of the nest. Knowing he wasn't what was best for her anymore and trying to get her to find happiness outside of him. I still like this reading best but it certainly doesn't always jive with everyone's actions. Bess's family and friends believe he is playing a perverse game, with his personal satisfaction being the ultimate goal. Bess believes she is saving him with her actions. I think all three interpretations work at different points in the story and that is part of the greatness of the film.
Bess's behavior as pertains to her communication with God will certainly come off as crazy to a lot of viewers. Again I liked this approach because it gives us first hand insight into what is going on in her mind. Her faith is unwavering at every turn. Her moments of doubt are almost always immediately turned into calls of action which she believes will make life better for her and Jan. I love the depiction of faith here. Bess's faith is never dependent on those around her. It is always personal and despite the tragedy and cruelty of those around her she remains steadfast. For much of this movie I didn't know if Von Trier meant for this to be a positive or negative. I think the ending shows that our view of Bess should be positive, but I am sure many could still read it the other way.
That brings us to the end of the film. This will surely remain one of my favorite endings as long as I am a film fan. I would have really liked this movie otherwise but the ending is so full of hope and joy for me. I mentioned that I wasn't sure what conclusions Von Trier wanted us to draw from the thematic elements of the film but I think the ending makes those things clear. Obviously I am coming at this film from my own perspective, which is a Christian perspective. So others could draw other conclusions to be sure. I firmly believe that Bess's journey is one where we are to see that what we feel in our soul is equally as important as our physical actions. Bess becomes something that most people find reprehensible. Whether her actions were misguided or not, she did them out of a deep faith that they would save Jan. Her love was unconditional and because of that her actions were pure. Despite the fact that it manifests itself in a very unorthodox manner, there is a very Christian principle at play here: as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. That comes from Proverbs 23. Our outward actions are very important in a physical sense but in a spiritual sense it is our motivations and intentions that make the difference.
This principle may or not be what Von Trier intended. It could very well be what he intended but he may not see it as overtly Christian as I do. Like all art, in the end it is what we get out of it that makes the difference. Much like the character of Bess, we have to find our way through what is transpiring and come out the other end with our own conclusions. As usual I don't feel like I am doing this movie any justice. It is a great film about faith and one that I am hopeful will generate some discussion. Maybe some of you will even take this opportunity to see it. Thanks for the recommendation Swan
Since I started watching film in a much different way, and different films for that matter, about five years ago I have heard the name Lars von Trier quite a bit. I have been reluctant to jump into his films. The words nihilism, bleak, and even pornographic have come up in discussions I have heard. So when my homeboy Swan suggested that I put this in my faith lineup this year naturally it went right to the front of the class because forget my reluctance I trust my homeboy. I couldn't be more happy that he did as this film is excellent. I will start with the performances of Watson and Skarsgard as both were top notch. The setup of their relationship was great. I love the slow roll into Bess's psyche. Perfect approach and with me not knowing anything going in I really enjoyed trying to figure out where her character was coming from and wondering how it would progress. Jan's demeanor with her is great to watch. You can feel his love is pure. Maybe he is attracted to her because of her innocence but that doesn't make it any less genuine. Likewise her love for him is unconditional. There is a sense that this man is different than anyone else she has met in her world. Not only is he not binding her to any kind of rules like the others in her life but he seems to be the first person to give her any agency of her own at all. The introduction to this relationship is key because it is what propels the story when things go to a much darker place. The setup is great and shows what a great story teller Von Trier is.
The depiction of sex in the film is quite frank but what I find interesting is it is far from titillating. There is a frankness about it that I find refreshing compared to the depiction of it in most other films and television. That also informs the viewer as the story moves forward because as Bess becomes more of a sexual creature we need to see this as a duty she is performing rather than a self-gratifying experience. Von Trier also treats organized religion in its most base form. Very legalistic and matter of fact. This is not the nuanced approach I would normally hope for but again it works very well for the story telling. The narrative works so well because we see Bess as a very repressed individual. It gives us insight into her psyche that informs her motivations throughout.
I will admit that for the middle portion of this film I had a hard time figuring out where Von Trier was headed thematically with the film. It never bothered me because I was intrigued but I did wonder what conclusions he was going to end up having me draw from this couple. The first question mark is what were Jan's intentions once he asks Bess to step out on him. My first inclination was that he was like a mother bird trying to push her out of the nest. Knowing he wasn't what was best for her anymore and trying to get her to find happiness outside of him. I still like this reading best but it certainly doesn't always jive with everyone's actions. Bess's family and friends believe he is playing a perverse game, with his personal satisfaction being the ultimate goal. Bess believes she is saving him with her actions. I think all three interpretations work at different points in the story and that is part of the greatness of the film.
Bess's behavior as pertains to her communication with God will certainly come off as crazy to a lot of viewers. Again I liked this approach because it gives us first hand insight into what is going on in her mind. Her faith is unwavering at every turn. Her moments of doubt are almost always immediately turned into calls of action which she believes will make life better for her and Jan. I love the depiction of faith here. Bess's faith is never dependent on those around her. It is always personal and despite the tragedy and cruelty of those around her she remains steadfast. For much of this movie I didn't know if Von Trier meant for this to be a positive or negative. I think the ending shows that our view of Bess should be positive, but I am sure many could still read it the other way.
That brings us to the end of the film. This will surely remain one of my favorite endings as long as I am a film fan. I would have really liked this movie otherwise but the ending is so full of hope and joy for me. I mentioned that I wasn't sure what conclusions Von Trier wanted us to draw from the thematic elements of the film but I think the ending makes those things clear. Obviously I am coming at this film from my own perspective, which is a Christian perspective. So others could draw other conclusions to be sure. I firmly believe that Bess's journey is one where we are to see that what we feel in our soul is equally as important as our physical actions. Bess becomes something that most people find reprehensible. Whether her actions were misguided or not, she did them out of a deep faith that they would save Jan. Her love was unconditional and because of that her actions were pure. Despite the fact that it manifests itself in a very unorthodox manner, there is a very Christian principle at play here: as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. That comes from Proverbs 23. Our outward actions are very important in a physical sense but in a spiritual sense it is our motivations and intentions that make the difference.
This principle may or not be what Von Trier intended. It could very well be what he intended but he may not see it as overtly Christian as I do. Like all art, in the end it is what we get out of it that makes the difference. Much like the character of Bess, we have to find our way through what is transpiring and come out the other end with our own conclusions. As usual I don't feel like I am doing this movie any justice. It is a great film about faith and one that I am hopeful will generate some discussion. Maybe some of you will even take this opportunity to see it. Thanks for the recommendation Swan