LIKE LARS VON TRIER'S EARLIER FILM, Breaking The Waves, Dancer In The Dark concerns a naive woman victimised by awful circumstance. Bjork’s emotive performance as Selma, a partially-blind factory worker and single mother in 60s America, is astonishing. But her acting experience was as excruciating as the protracted tragedy suffered by her character. Star and director fell out during the filming of this homage to the Hollywood musical and even though bridges have been rebuilt, BjOrk has vowed never to act again.
The List Why was the making of this film so painful for you?
Bjorkl am not able to, nor do I want to, act in the sense of wearing a character like a skin. I can only become one with the character, which means being confronted mercilessly with the pain and sadness of my character. I often identified with Selma so keenly that I became physically ill. I knew I was not meant to be an actress.
TL 50 why did you agree to act in the film?
8 Lars von Trier's (ijrk refers to von Trier only by his full name) offer reached me at a perfect moment. I had just written three albums full of my own soul spinning. I was also emotionally exhausted from my pursuit of the perfect song and felt a need to reload by putting my services at another’s disposal. I felt I w0uld be being unfaithful to my music if I accepted the role of Selma. When Lars von Trier threatened to cancel the filming of the whole movie I got desperate at the thought of losing Selma and her music. I had begun to love her and resolved to fight for her destiny.
TL Why did von Trier want you, an inexperienced actress, for the lead role in his film?
3 He sees something in me that is in the part too, something eccentric. There are several people around Selma who ridicule her, the same way I am treated in the pop world, seen as an outsider. Selma and I
are both trying to escape reality. I am familiar with all the abstractions of music, but people scare me simply because they are so unpredictable. But Selma is more naive than I am, because she truly thinks life can be one long musical. I don’t think so anymore.
TL Though you have been critical of von Trier, you have praised his films. What do you like about them?
8 His portrayal of women, women who sacrifice themselves for love. Lars von Trier has the courage to be different and he does not compromise in the area of emotions. It is magical. When I saw Breaking The Waves, I was so excited I couldn't sit still. I kept walking back and forth in my room. I felt intensely happy for a while, to finally experience that other people have equally strong emotions as I do.
TL You began your collaboration with him by agreeing to compose the soundtrack for Dancer In The Dark. How did that experience compare with acting?
B I have a very good recollection of writing the music. It reminded me of my time with The Sugarcubes, because I was continually focused on another. I have worked harder on the soundtrack than on my three solo albums; it cost me three years of my life and I am terribly proud of it. But it is a Selma record, it does not belong to the universe of BJOrk.
TL Did you have any previous aspira- tions to compose a film soundtrack?
8 I never had an interest in soundtracks. There is so little collaboration, as if the composer and the director never meet. From the moment I said yes to Lars von Trier, I gave myself completely, because I knew it was the only musical I would ever do. Because Lars von Trier doesn’t know much about mUSIC, he gave me total freedom in the beginning, but his responses to my music varied. The 'train song’ was beautiful, he said; it came very close to the romantic approach he had in mind. Other pieces he didn’t like at all, and he was ruthless in voicing that. The first song I wrote for the movie he
“\Nasin conflict with Lars von Trier aboutthe music all the thne!
BJIIRK
rejected; he said I had not put enough feeling into it. Imagine that, I was practically crying when I wrote it. I was in conflict With Lars von Trier about the music all the time. Maybe it is because we both aim for perfection.
TL Did that conflict compromise your compositions?
B I did not feel restricted in any way while I was composmg, even though the film plays in the 60s and the tone of the musical element is very nostalgic. Though Selma is obsessed With Hollywood musicals I use techno rhythms. My music represents Selma‘s fantasy. In the movie she is the only one who can hear the music; it all takes place in her head.
TL Were you familiar with the conventions of the Hollywood musical before you began work on Dancer In The Dark?
8 When as a child I didn’t feel so good, I often dreamt I was hitting on the table With a little spoon, whereupon everyone would burst into dance and song. I liked the music I made With that little spoon incomparany more than all the violin sections that glue up so many soundtracks. In my dream everyone was enchanted, not Just the stars on the big screen. But I only got interested in movies later on; all the mUSICaIS Selma loves so much I didn't know. Lars von Trier showed me the muSicals With which my co-star, Catherine Deneuve, made movie history with in the 605, The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg and Les Demor’sel/es De Rochefourt. They both made a big impreSSion on me.
TL What does music mean to you?
8 If you take away the mUSIC I am totally lost. Everything that relates to dancmg and mu5ic is sheer enjoyment for me. When I have to talk it's an abomination; I have trouble communicating With words sometimes. I WOuId understand people a lot better if they communicated in music instead of words.
Dancer In The Dark (Film) ABC, 13 Aug, 7.30pm £7 (£4.50). It is expected to go on general release from 15 Sep.
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