Maps of Movies
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Where Dancer in the Dark says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
A 1964 Washington State factory town, filmed in Sweden and Denmark, with one American prison that really was used
View on the map
Scenes and places
The factory floor where Selma works (1964)
Selma works a punch-press line next to her friend Kathy while hiding how little she can see. On the factory floor the machines' rhythms turn into music in her head, the daydream that carries her through the day.
Set in The factory where Selma works — A factory in Washington State, 1964, where Selma works alongside her friend Kathy. The film gives no town or address.
A small-town factory in 1960s Washington State, shot in Sweden.
Filmed at Trollhättan, Sweden (Södra Hamnvägen 3) — Filmed in and around Trollhättan; the factory exterior is placed at this address by one location list. The coordinate is the town centre, not the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Filmed at Billingsfors, Västra Götaland, Sweden — One location list gives Billingsfors for the factory interior. The coordinate is the village centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The trailer and the policeman's house (1964)
Selma pays the rent and keeps Gene out of trouble, but at night Bill, her landlord, comes to her with a secret about the family's money. She promises to keep it and answers with a secret of her own, that she is going blind and is saving for an operation for Gene.
Set in Selma's rented trailer and Bill's house — A trailer on the property of local police officer Bill Houston and his wife Linda, in Washington State. The film gives no town.
A trailer home beside the house of a local policeman.
The railroad bridge and "I've Seen It All" (1964)
Selma walks home along a railroad bridge after losing her job. Jeff offers her a lift and she refuses; their talk on the tracks turns into a song about everything she has seen and has no need to see.
Set in The railroad bridge — A railroad bridge in Washington State that Selma crosses on her walk home. The film gives no location.
A railroad bridge over a river.
Filmed at Railway bridge over the Norsälven, Kil, Värmland, Sweden — One location list gives a railway bridge near Kil for this number. The coordinate is the town centre, not the bridge. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The courtroom (1964)
Selma stands in court, accused of being a Communist sympathizer and of faking her blindness to exploit American healthcare. She tells as much truth as she can but will not reveal the one secret that might help clear her name, because she promised to keep it.
Set in The courtroom — A courtroom in Washington State. The film gives no town.
A courtroom where her story is judged.
The state penitentiary (1964)
Held in the state penitentiary, Selma finds it very quiet. In a musical, she says, nothing dreadful ever happens, and she asks whether the prisoners march, looking for some rhythm here too.
Set in The state penitentiary — A prison in Washington State, 1964. The film does not name it.
A state prison in the same state where the story is set.
Filmed at Washington State Penitentiary, 1313 N 13th Ave, Walla Walla, Washington, USA — The prison was used to film a scene in the movie. Wikipedia and Wikidata coordinates differ by about 15 m. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: A working state prison with no public access; view the exterior from the street only.
Filmed at Film Studio Avedøre (Filmbyen), Avedøre, Denmark — Musical daydream sequences Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Trollywood (former Nohab site), Trollhättan, Sweden — Musical daydream sequences Google Maps · Apple Maps
Filmed at Arlington, Washington, USA — Small Washington town (scene not stated) Google Maps · Apple Maps
Characters
- Selma — A Czech immigrant factory worker in 1964 Washington State, losing her sight and saving for her son's operation.
- Kathy — Selma's close friend and co-worker, nicknamed Cvalda, who describes the films they watch together.
- Bill — The local police officer who owns the property where Selma rents her trailer.
- Jeff — A shy, persistent admirer who keeps offering Selma rides.
Questions answered on the map
- Where was the prison in Dancer in the Dark really filmed?
- Where was Selma's factory in Dancer in the Dark really filmed?