This movie stunned me. Von Trier can sometimes come up from behind and bash you behind the ear-- and I often thank him for the privilege.
This film is tied with Joan of Arc to be my favorite filmed passion. Joan has got the emotional weight, but this film is so completely modern and believable. Obviously, Selma is a Christ figure, but she may be my favorite, tied with the character in Ordet. It's a couple days later and I am stunned by this film.
The soundtrack was an excellent companion to the film. The songs are sometimes rambling, with the bare hint of a melody. But that goes well with Selma's seeming passiveness. Of course, she is not passive, she is driven, and she doesn't allow anything to get in the way of her goal, but the method she uses for her ambitions is seeming passivity, allowing to be stepped on.
This film is going to make my top 100 this year. I think that might make me the only person-- or one of a very few--- with two Von Trier movies in their top 100. And I haven't seen that many, maybe four or five.