Dancer in the Dark 2000

Selma is a young Czech mother residing in Washington state during the early 1960s. She is passionate about musicals; however, her vision is rapidly deteriorating, posing a significant threat to her employment at a local factory, and even jeopardizing her safety. At work, she assists her friend Cathy, who finds herself increasingly overwhelmed by Selma’s mounting workload, which includes the tedious task of pinning hairpins to unbent cardboard as a side job.

Living in a mobile trailer, Selma has an ungrateful 12-year-old son who often gets into trouble, and they reside on the property of a local sheriff alongside his cheerful wife. One fateful day, the sheriff confesses a somber secret to Selma, prompting her to reveal her own dark fate: her impending blindness. This exchange leads Selma’s life into a downward spiral, but she remains committed to safeguarding her friend’s secret.

As tensions rise, Cathy becomes increasingly exasperated by Selma’s choices. Yet, as the film reaches its intense climax, she recognizes that Selma’s way of handling life was indeed justified. In a poignant moment during the final scenes, Cathy reassures Selma that she made the right decisions despite the odds stacked against them.

This film is a unique blend of satire and tragedy—filled with experimental camera techniques—that explores the profound themes of friendship and maternal love. It’s a story best experienced in the company of others!