Bjork stars in this musical drama written and directed by Lars von Trier. Selma (Bjork) is a Czech immigrant who works as a machine operator in an American tool factory. Almost blind herself, she struggles to make enough money to pay for the operation which will save her son's eyesight, and has nearly collected the complete sum when the money is stolen from her by the cop (David Morse) who lives next door. Discovering this, Selma goes to appeal to the cop's mercy, but he refuses to listen and pulls a gun on her, an act which will have fatal consequences for the both of them.