Björk

Björk Guðmundsdóttir {{IPA2|'pj?r?k 'kv?ðm?nstoʊhtɪr}}, (born November 21, 1965 in Reykjavík, Iceland) is an Icelandic singer/songwriter with a great expressive range and an interest in many kinds of music including popular, trip-hop, alternative rock, jazz, electronica, folk, and classical music.

Björk in Film

Björk's intermittent acting career began in 1990, when she appeared in Juniper Tree, a tale of witchcraft based on the Brothers Grimm story of the same name. Björk played the role of Margit, a girl whose mother has been killed for practising witchcraft. Björk also had an uncredited role in 1994's Prêt-à-Porter.

Related Topics:
Juniper Tree - Brothers Grimm

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In 1999, Björk was asked to write and produce the musical score for the film Dancer in the Dark, a pseudo-musical about an immigrant named Selma who is struggling to pay for an operation to prevent her son from going blind. Director Lars von Trier eventually asked her to consider playing the role of Selma, a proposal she initially turned down. He then threatened to stop the project, which would have made all the musical work she had already done useless. Eventually, she accepted. Filming began in early 1999, and the film debuted in 2000 at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival. Björk received the best actress award for her role, and yet she described the shoot as so physically and emotionally trying that she has sworn off acting ever again. This was a rumour, however that was put to rest in numerous interviews. Björk later stated that she always wanted to do one musical in her life, and this was the one. She also said that she could not do movies and music at the same time. The soundtrack Björk created for the film was released with the title Selmasongs. She was invited to record Gollum's Song for the film ', but declined the invitation, as she was then pregnant; the track was instead recorded by her fellow Icelander Emiliana Torrini.

Related Topics:
Dancer in the Dark - Lars von Trier - Cannes Film Festival - Selmasongs - Gollum's Song - Emiliana Torrini

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In 2005, Björk collaborated with her New York-based long-time boyfriend Matthew Barney on the experimental art film Drawing Restraint 9, a no-dialogue exploration of Japanese culture. She was also responsible for the film's soundtrack, her second after 2000's Selmasongs.

Related Topics:
Matthew Barney - Drawing Restraint 9 - Japanese culture - Selmasongs

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