The life of a young courageous and handsome oilman, who falls in love with a beautiful woman and marries her, has been turned upside down, when he faces a fatal accident that leads him to be paralyzed, so he asks his wife, who is so religious, to have sex with other men, as a kind of help to get recovered.
It's a remarkable achievement for all concerned, with Katrin Cartlidge, as Bess's widowed sister-in-law, sharing the acting laurels with the radiant Emily Watson, and writer/director Lars von Trier building the emotional and dramatic intensity ...
It's a testament to Emily Watson's astounding performance as Bess that she comes across as more than a von Trier construct; she's a woman of boundless passion, who follows her faith wherever it takes her.
Here is a film that makes you feel like you've read the novel, seen the movie, and lived the life of a protagonist more empathetic than any other. You just might need a stiff drink afterward.
