Selma is a Czech immigrant, a single mother working in a factory in rural America. Her salvation is her passion for music, especially the all-singing, all-dancing numbers found in classic Hollywood musicals. Selma harbours a sad secret: she is losing her eyesight and her son stands to suffer the same fate if she can? put away enough money to secure him an operation. When a desperate neighbor falsely accuses Selma of stealing his savings, the drama of her life escalates to a tragic finale. “This film is put together from two ‘shapes’: the musical scenes and some almost documentary scenes. I thought it would be interesting to put the documentary style up against the musical but I believe that I act from admiration for the way musicals are - I? not trying to subvert or destroy anything. I? trying to make it richer by somehow importing true emotion. It is such a beautiful cocktail, emotion and music. Also, I think that to take something like musicals seriously is interesting. (Lars von Trier)