Directed by:
Lars von TrierScreenplay:
Lars von TrierCinematography:
Anthony Dod MantleCast:
Nicole Kidman, Harriet Andersson, Lauren Bacall, Jean-Marc Barr, Paul Bettany, Blair Brown, James Caan, Patricia Clarkson, Jeremy Davies, Ben Gazzara (more)VOD (1)
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Set in a small fictional town in the U.S. during the 1930s, Lars von Trier's Dogville was filmed in a studio with a minimal set and features narration by John Hurt. On the run from a group of gangsters, Grace (Nicole Kidman) arrives in the small mining town of Dogville. Town philosopher Tom Edison (Paul Bettany) takes her in and strikes a deal with her: She'll work for the townsfolk in exchange for a safe place to hide; after two weeks the people will vote for her to either stay or go. Grace agrees to the terms and ends up meeting the locals, including the town doctor (Philip Baker Hall), shopkeeper (Lauren Bacall), and apple farmer (Stellan Skarsgård). Eventually, Grace's standing in the town takes a downward shift as the search for her intensifies. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (8)
For me, this film has been cursed for some time. Endless missed opportunities at the cinema or a lack of DVDs over the years were finally ended by a moment of evening television. And the wait was worth it. As soon as I got used to the art direction (I had heard about the absolute minimalism, but it still took me a while to fully absorb this never-before-experienced atmosphere), I was completely absorbed. Lars von Trier carefully introduces the game of unknown mental twists and dark places, which appear in a single moment yet have completely logical and believable consequences. However, I would have come to appreciate the cautious unfolding of the problem in Dogville much more slowly if it weren't for the right person at the forefront of everything. From her first entry into the town, the captivating goddess Nicole Kidman is a fatal, fateful femme fatale, who as Grace changes every person close to her and, thanks to her, the various tense moments are unforgettable and surprisingly captivating. So why am I not giving it the highest rating despite all this praise? Because three hours is really too much for Dogville. I may thoroughly understand the nature of many characters, but the further the complications went, the more I trembled at the inevitable conclusion. In the end, it exceeded my expectations in its completeness, but the director's occasional tricks "against the audience" simply don't sit well with me. Nevertheless, I am desperately looking forward to continuing the new journey and consider this painful spectacle a cinematic obligation.
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Excellent. I’m not sure if I would have put it on if I’d known beforehand the style it’s made. But I did and I’m thrilled. The simple plot that probes deep into the dark corners of the human soul is tailor made for this minimalist form. Fortunate are those who in the film didn’t find anything similar to their own experience.
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Dogville is wonderfully cast, with even the smallest roles played by actors who would deserve to play the lead role in any other film, and the whole ensemble is led by Nicole Kidman, who wanted to earn the reputation of a great actress after filling her purse, and certainly didn't argue with Lars von Trier about how much she was getting paid. The film relies on a thought-provoking emotional story with a truly devilishly clever twist that is satisfying not only for the humiliated protagonist but also for the audience. Revenge is ruthless and absolute. But the problem with Dogville is that it's not really a film. It doesn't use specific film language and techniques. Rather, it's an alternative theater performance recorded on film. Experimental theater with minimal sets and props. Some people will be satisfied and content with the emotions shown and the intimate acting, while others may feel cheated. Lars von Trier is a filmmaker who likes to push the boundaries of what is possible and accepted, and I find that appealing. On the other hand, if cinema were to develop in this direction, it would probably be a disaster because not everyone is such a good storyteller and not every actor has such a good range as the participants in this experiment. Overall impression: 90%.
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In this film, the form definitely triumphs over what is being told to us. It's quite surprising how well a Dane captures the American world, but on the other hand, it's also not incredibly brilliant. The theatrical approach is what grabs your attention the most; surprisingly, after a while, it won't even bother you. As you get used to it, you start to realize that the story isn't just filling the stage; it's something meaningful, developing, and above all, wonderfully presented by all the actors. From a completely idyllic setting underscored by lurking danger and mystery, we transition to a state where we are utterly repulsed by the characters. Lars once again chose an intense path to show the audience that sometimes we are truly beasts.
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A psychological masterpiece, formally quite extraordinary and unique. The trip to a town of horrors presented as a stage set with minimal scenery does seem extremely strange for most of its runtime, but Trier somehow managed to convince me that this is the only way to deliver such a complex and powerful emotional experience. You may enjoy the company around you all you like, but I think that after my experience with Dogville, I can't help but have a spark of doubt about them. Because such a precise and detailed blackening of human characters, crowned with one of the most shocking endings I've ever seen in a film, it’s something that I can’t get out of my mind with just a snap of the fingers. The minutes go by at lightning speed, the actors give riveting performances (I couldn't even breathe during Kidman and Skarsgård's scenes together), and horror fans can write down the name of another unfriendly place with the suffix -ville in their diaries. I don't think you can take it all in well enough the first time, so I'll save the fifth star for the second screening :) 85%
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