Dancer in the Dark *****

Just when I thought modern cinema had nothing left to offer, Lars Von Trier has given me probably the most memorable two hours of my adult cinemagoing life. Bjork is outstanding as a Czech immigrant rapidly turning blind, a hereditary condition which means her son will lose his eyesight unless she can pay for an operation. Thus she works impossible hours at a horrendous sheet metal plant where she passes the time by daydreaming of Hollywood musicals. These daydreams (there are seven throughout the film) see Bjork and her colleagues singing and dancing, no matter what horrific situation they find themselves in. It's these moments that most reviewers were unable to accept. Yet these are the very same critics who had no problems with the preposterous finale of "Fight Club". Go figure.

When reality inevitably catches up with her, she gets one hell of a wake up call. Never has a character moved me the way she does, probably because a longing to escape to a fantasy world is one I can identify strongly with, as I'm sure can all lovers of the silver screen. Bjork ends up on death row, her spirit crushed by the silence of her cell. You see she needs everyday sounds and rhythms to fuel her technicolour fantasy world. One of the most moving scenes I've ever witnessed sees her attempt to sing "My Favourite Things" from "The Sound of Music". She struggles to get the words out through her tears and is accompanied by no choreographed dancers or backing music. Reality has taken over.

Take two hours out of your reality and go see this masterpiece, for who knows how long we'll have to wait for another movie even half as good as this.