As the Belcourt proceeds to bum moviegoers out with its first-ever Bleak Week (as part of the global network of arthouses partnering with L.A.-based American Cinematheque’s annual downer-fest), the theater booked perhaps the most depressing-ass Lars von Trier movie (in glorious 35 mm!) for night two. Fresh from putting Emily Watson through hell in Breaking the Waves, the Danish troublemaker puts Björk, that Icelandic manic pixie dream girl, through the wringer in this surreal 2000 tragedy. She’s Selma, a movie-musical-loving Czech immigrant living and working in 1960s America. She’s also saving up for her son’s eye operation, so he won’t lose the sight she’s also losing, due to a hereditary disease. Von Trier knew what he was doing when he got together with the art-pop princess; along with coming up with eccentric music for the elaborate, shot-on-digital video dance numbers, she gives a heart-shattering performance — think Giulietta Masina in La Strada, but without the clown makeup — as a joyful girl whose American Dream keeps getting interrupted by the real America. Bring all the gotdamn Kleenex.
7:30 p.m. at the Belcourt
2102 Belcourt Ave.
