

Breaking the Waves
Love is a mighty power.
In a small, conservative Scottish village, an oilman is paralyzed in an accident. His wife, who prayed for his return, feels guilty; even more, when he urges her to have sex with another.
TMDB
7.5/10
1,156 votes
IMDb
Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $7.5M
- Box office
- $23M
- Language
- English
- underdog
- dying and death
- prostitute
- paraplegic
- parent child relationship
- faith
- scotland
- society
- tradition
- prayer
- excommunication
- authority
Top billed cast











Behind the camera
Director
Writers
Music
Produced in
Denmark, France, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, United States of America
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereNew York Film Festival4 Oct 1996
- TheatricalR13 Nov 1996
- PremiereChicago International Film Festival18 Oct 2014
United KingdomGB
- Theatrical1818 Oct 1996
- Theatrical18Re-release (Restored Version)4 Aug 2023
AustraliaAU
- TheatricalR 18+27 Feb 1997
BrazilBR
- Theatrical7 Feb 1997
CzechiaCZ
- Theatrical (limited)15+Art cinemas11 Sept 1997
- TheatricalRe-release24 Nov 2022
DenmarkDK
- Theatrical155 Jul 1996
FranceFR
- PremiereCannes Film Festival13 May 1996
- Theatrical129 Oct 1996
- PremiereCherbourg-Octeville Festival of Irish and British Film15 Oct 2000
- PremiereLyon Festival Hallucinations Collectives1 Apr 2018
- Theatrical12Re-release (Restored Version)12 Jul 2023
GermanyDE
- Theatrical123 Oct 1996
GreeceGR
- Theatrical6 Dec 1996
- TheatricalRe-release12 Sept 2003
ItalyIT
- Theatrical14+11 Oct 1996
NetherlandsNL
- Theatrical1629 Aug 1996
- TV16Nederland 222 Jul 2007
- Physical16DVD12 May 2009
- PremiereFilm by the Sea Film Festival15 Sept 2013
PortugalPT
- TheatricalM/1631 Jan 1997
Frequently asked questions
Breaking the Waves was released on 5 July 1996.
Audience reviews
3- C7/10
CinemaSerf
8/6/2023
Though I really didn't rate the story so much here, I thought the performance from Emily Watson as "Bess" is formidable. She lives on a remote Scottish island and is to marry oil rig worker "Jan" (Stellan Skarsgård). Somewhat reluctantly, the islanders embrace this and all is happy until she feels the wrench of his return to the rig. Pining for him, she regularly has conversations with God in their small kirk. It's o…
- F1/10
Filipe Manuel Neto
4/14/2024
**An ugly film on all levels that insults our intelligence.** For me, cinema is an art that tells good stories, whether fictional, true or a mix of fiction and real facts. It has a clear social role, often makes people think or raises difficult questions. However, there are directors who seem to live off controversy, that is, they try to use cinema to shock or impress, attracting attention for the worst and most s…
- A10/10
Andre Wilfred Sanders
7/3/2025
** A Movie That Doesn’t Just Move You, It Breaks You ** not just a film—it’s a raw, transcendent piece of art that pierces straight through the heart. From the hauntingly beautiful cinematography to Lars von Trier’s uncompromising direction, every frame of this movie is crafted with such emotional intensity that it becomes an unforgettable experience. Emily Watson delivers one of the most powerful performances …
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