The Dancer_
"In a world of shadows, she found the light of life."
Selma, a Czech immigrant on the verge of blindness, struggles to make ends meet for herself and her son, who has inherited the same genetic disorder and will suffer the same fate without an expensive operation. When life gets too difficult, Selma learns to cope through her love of musicals, dreaming up little numbers to the rhythmic beats of her surroundings.
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
MUBI
7 countries
BFI Player
1 country
C
Curzon Amazon Channel
1 country
Plex
FREE
1 country
F
FILMO
1 country
Molotov TV
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
The Dancer earned $40.1M worldwide on a $12.5M budget — a 220% return on investment.
Ifa Isfansyah →
Year context
The Dancer was released 15 years ago in 2011.
CAST (20)
Björk
Selma Jezkova
Catherine Deneuve
Kathy
David Morse
Bill Houston
Peter Stormare
Jeff
Joel Grey
Oldrich Novy
Cara Seymour
Linda Houston
VK
Vladica Kostic
Gene Jezkova
Jean-Marc Barr
Norman
Vincent Paterson
Samuel
Siobhan Fallon Hogan
Brenda
Zeljko Ivanek
District Attorney
Udo Kier
Dr. Porkorny
Jens Albinus
Morty
Reathel Bean
Judge
Mette Berggreen
Receptionist
LM
Lars Michael Dinesen
Defense Attorney / Dancer
Katrine Falkenberg
Suzan / Dancer
MF
Michael Flessas
Angry Man
John Randolph Jones
Detective
NL
Noah Lazarus
Officer of the Court / Dancer
CREW
BOX OFFICE
$12.5M
Budget
$40.1M
Revenue
+220%
ROI
BLOCKBUSTER
Verdict
STUDIOS (2)
Zentropa
Canal+
AWARDS (5)
S
Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film
2001
WON
B
Goya Award for Best European Film
2001
WON
B
European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director
2000
WON
B
National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
WON
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
140 min (2h 20m)
Language
ID
Rating
7.9/10 (1,941 votes)
Popularity
5
Budget
$12,500,000
Box Office
$40,061,153
Profit
+$27,561,153
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Dancer about?
Selma, a Czech immigrant on the verge of blindness, struggles to make ends meet for herself and her son, who has inherited the same genetic disorder and will suffer the same fate without an expensive operation. When life gets too difficult, Selma learns to cope through her love of musicals, dreaming up little numbers to the rhythmic beats of her surroundings.
How long is The Dancer?
The Dancer has a runtime of 140 minutes (2h 20m).
Who directed The Dancer?
The Dancer was directed by Ifa Isfansyah.
Who stars in The Dancer?
The cast of The Dancer includes Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Peter Stormare, Joel Grey.
How much did The Dancer make at the box office?
The Dancer earned $40,061,153 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $12,500,000.
What is the rating of The Dancer?
The Dancer has a rating of 7.9 out of 10 based on 1,941 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (2)
Drama
Crime
KEYWORDS (20)
factory worker
individual
immigrant
blindness and impaired vision
dancing
eye operation
small town
naivety
hereditary disease
robbery
court
musical
female friendship
murder
debt
police officer
trailer
daydreaming
mother son relationship
bitter