[Diedaily]

So...this is one of those films that people either love or just utterly hate.

Nicole Kidman star as Grace, a woman running away from some mobsters. She hides in the remote, little town of "Dogville". Soon, she starts working for the people in the town, and everything seems to go nice and okay...until the town people show their true self. Simple enough.

The film was shot entirely in a soundstage. The town is made up of a few props; walls and door are marked with chalk lines. And the whole film takes place there. It lasts 3 hours or so. And if you're familiar with von Trier's work, you know how fond he is of hand-held camera and those jump cuts some ppl find annoying.

Many ppl think the film is anti-american. I think it's actually anti-humankind. He even argues that we, humans, don't deserve Grace.

The supporting cast includes Pauk Bettany, Lauren Bacall, Patricia Clarkson, Phillip Baker Hall, Ben Gazzara, Jeremy Davies, James Caan, and the always beautiful Chloe Sevigny. (Except for Brown Bunny, I'd watch anything with her in it.) There's more actors but I have no clue who they are.

The DVD's been out for quite a while now. So, has anybody seen it?

I know the 3 hours long and the whole thing being completely in a soundstage turns some ppl off immediately, but give it a try. It's worth checking out.

This film is the first of a trilogy. Manderlay, the next film in the trilogy, is supposed to be completed already. And Bryce Dallas Howard is gonna be playing Grace this time.Can't wait to see it.

[Nate]

My girlfriend and I watched it tonight. It was ****ing brilliant. I have not seen very many movies at all (certainly not in comparison to the likes of you, anyway), but I would easily place this as one of the best that I've seen. I was quite pleasantly surprised, seeing as I'm not usually too thrilled about any movie at all. I thought it was pretty much a work of genius.

There were more allusions to distinctly Christian themes than you could shake a stick at, which was very interesting. Made me wonder if all of them were unintentional or incidental, because there were simply so many of them. I really liked the fact *spoilers ahead* that the dog, Moses, (which, in Christianity, would symbolize the Law) was the only one left standing after Grace had done her work. "I have not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it," anyone? The whole father / daughter scene in the car reminded me of the Biblical account of Christ interceding to the Father on our behalf. It was all really well done, whatever the intention was. I guess that's one of the marks of good art: you are free to interpret it according to your own beliefs and ideas.

In His love,
Nate

[benj]

I saw it a year or so ago. I remember I really enjoyed it. I didn't realize it was going to be a trilogy. I'll be really interested to see the next two films when they come out now.

I thought the allusions to Christianity were very interesting too, Nate. I'll have to watch it again, I have forgotten so much of it.

I would suggest checking out "Dancer in the Dark," another film by director Lars von Trier. It stars Icelandic pop star Bjork. I guess you could call it a nihilistic musical, though that is sort of an oxymoron, I guess. I still thought it was a beautiful film.

[Diedaily]

Originally Posted by benj

I didn't realize it was going to be a trilogy. I'll be really interested to see the next two films when they come out now.

Manderlay already debuted in Cannes. It'll probably make its debut in the States next year.

I would suggest checking out "Dancer in the Dark," another film by director Lars von Trier. It stars Icelandic pop star Bjork. I guess you could call it a nihilistic musical, though that is sort of an oxymoron, I guess. I still thought it was a beautiful film.

Yes, another great film. It's one of my favorites. Check also Breaking The Waves, and if you haven't seen it, also check out The Five Obstructions, a documentary/descontruction film. Simply genius.

[benj]

Cool, I'll keep my eyes peeled for "Manderlay."

I have seen "Breaking The Waves" and it is also really good, but "Dancer" is the one I always recommend. I'll have to look into "The Five Obstructions," I've never seen that one.

[thelitguy]

I've been meaning to see this, but haven't yet. Von Trier is one of my favorite directors right now, so it should be pretty interesting.

I loved all the controversy surrounding Von Trier's demand that a live donkey be killed on the set of Manderlay. I couldn't help but laugh.

[bread man]

I just watched this and, wow, it was amazing. I've got two questions...

I rented the DVD and the version I saw was a little under 2 and half hours. The original post in this thread says it was 3 hours. Have I missed some of it or something?

I'm also not really sure if I understood the ending.

*spoiler*
If Grace represents grace, then why did she ask her father to kill everyone? Am I making any sense?