Stellan Skarsgård appears to be a strong contender for Best Supporting Actor at this year’s Academy Awards due to his icy yet infectiously soulful performance in Sentimental Value. However, an Oscar for Skarsgård would not only acknowledge his work in Joachim Trier‘s drama about a dysfunctional showbiz family but also celebrate an actor who has been extraordinary for over 30 years in Hollywood and arthouse cinema abroad. In America, Skarsgård, who has inspired a new generation of actors including Bill and Alexander Skarsgård, is best known as a reliable character actor who lends gravitas to The Avengers and Andor, while also stealing the spotlight in star-driven auteur films like Good Will Hunting and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Before gaining fame in Hollywood, Skarsgård was one of Sweden’s most talented performers, and his remarkable acting skills were best showcased in the multinational tragic drama, Breaking the Waves, Lars von Trier’s film that epitomized a maverick cinematic movement.
Stellan Skarsgård Embodies Twisted Love in ‘Breaking the Waves’
As films become increasingly bloated and studio-controlled, a handful of Danish visionary filmmakers, including Thomas Vinterberg and Lars von Trier, committed to producing stories under the guiding principles of Dogme 95. This manifesto established their cinematic language, characterized by minimalist settings, natural lighting, and handheld cameras. This anti-studio style of filmmaking is most evident in Vinterberg’s The Celebration, which resembles a home movie. Under this doctrine, films can delve into the darkest corners of the soul, as von Trier did with intimate and blazing fury in his breakout film, Breaking the Waves.
Starring Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgård as a couple facing an extraordinary marital conflict, Breaking the Waves follows Jan (Skarsgård), an oil driller who becomes paralyzed in a work accident and is cared for by his wife, Bess (Watson). After the accident leaves Jan bedridden with a broken neck, Bess experiences profound guilt despite having prayed for his safe return before the injury. To compensate for their lack of sexual intimacy, Jan encourages Bess to explore deviancy while remaining faithful to him. The intense psychological drama from 1996 was widely acclaimed, winning the jury prize at Cannes and earning enough recognition in the U.S. to secure Watson an Oscar nomination.
Stellan Skarsgård’s Emotionally Dynamic Performance Best Captures Lars von Trier’s Vision
While Watson justifiably garnered much acclaim, Skarsgård’s performance should not be overlooked, even if it is easy to do so due to his effortless acting style. As Jan, the oil-rig worker striving to make the best of tragic circumstances, Skarsgård portrays the role with unexpected sensitivity. As demonstrated in Sentimental Value, where he plays a celebrated filmmaker and absent father attempting to reconnect with his daughters, his commanding presence quickly gives way to his aching vulnerability. Skarsgård powerfully embodies the pain and longing of someone trapped in confinement, serving as the punishing heartbeat of the film. Known for his provocative character studies about endless tragedy, particularly in Dancer in the Dark and Dogville, von Trier’s filmography does not spare viewers; however, Skarsgård’s performances lend necessary humanity to dire situations.
Emily Watson delivers a revelatory and captivating performance in Breaking the Waves, embodying von Trier’s recurring themes of sexual perversion, female martyrdom, and religious guilt—complex ideas that contribute to the critical divisiveness of his work. In contrast, Skarsgård becomes a frequent collaborator with von Trier; he remains unshowy and seamlessly grounded in his performance, which clarifies the director’s struggle with morality. The lines between right and wrong gradually blur throughout the film, largely due to Jan’s dual role as both manipulator and manipulated. The love between Jan and Bess flirts with sadism yet appears genuine. Thanks to its grainy handheld cinematography by legendary cinematographer Robby Müller, viewers feel as though they are witnessing an extended and incredibly strange dynamic within their marriage. While their motivations may be unclear at times, their existential dread resonates deeply.
No wonder Stellan Skarsgård has remained a prominent figure in Hollywood and international cinema; his undeniable presence makes him an easy choice for any heavy or imposing character or significant familial figure. Even when portraying villains or authority figures, Skarsgård consistently unlocks new emotional depth and grace in these challenging roles. In Breaking the Waves, this seemingly soon-to-be Oscar nominee makes infidelity appear like a divine gift.
Breaking the Waves is available for streaming on Mubi in the U.S.
