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Dogville
2003
Set in the 1930s during the Depression in the Rocky Mountains, DOGVILLE is Lars von Trier's comment on Americana and his uniquely perverse view of small town life. With period costumes, and flashes of THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER--which is being read by one of the characters--von Trier sets the scene. Using nothing more than a .. Read more
| Starring | Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Lauren Bacall, Harriet Andersson |
|---|---|
| Director | Lars Von Trier |
| Genres | Drama |
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Dogville
Set in the 1930s during the Depression in the Rocky Mountains, DOGVILLE is Lars von Trier's comment on Americana and his uniquely perverse view of small town life. With period costumes, and flashes of THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER--which is being read by one of the characters--von Trier sets the scene. Using nothing more than a black floor on which white chalk lines and labels mark out houses and landmarks such as the mine and the store, the film is essentially a play. With only minimal props, the emphasis is on the script and the performances.
Dogville is a tiny town consisting of just seven households and 15 adults in total. Tom Edison (Paul Bettany) is the resident philosopher, who plans to write a book about morality but has not yet begun. He also serves as the town mayor, holding community meetings in the local church. When a beautiful woman, Grace (Nicole Kidman), arrives in town claiming she is being chased by thugs, Dogville welcomes her and agrees to grant her safety--at cost. Grace must prove herself to Dogville's residents, first through physical labour, then through friendship, then through utterly astonishing sacrifices that, in classic von Trier style, go way beyond anything viewers might imagine. A bizarre and disturbing film, DOGVILLE features an all-star cast including Chloe Sevigny, Stellan Skarsgard, Ben Gazzara, James Caan, Harriet Andersson, Lauren Bacall, and narration by John Hurt.
| Starring | Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Lauren Bacall, Harriet Andersson, Jean-Marc Barr |
|---|---|
| Director | Lars Von Trier |
| Studio | ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 58 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 02 Aug 2004 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Director Lars von Trier abandons the restrictions that he devised for Dogme 95 and sets himself a new batch of creative dilemmas in this defiantly stylised picture that's played out on a single sound stage, with buildings and landmarks being suggested by outlines and props rather than existing as authentic sets. Led by Paul Bettany and Lauren Bacall, the ensemble cast is excellent. But it's Nicole Kidman who fixes the attention, playing the Depression-era runaway who places herself at the disposal of the residents of a Rocky Mountain backwater in return for their protection from the Mob. This is a sobering study in human frailty, but don't let anyone tell you it's an anti-American film, as folk have been behaving with such self-serving cynicism in Broadway plays and Hollywood movies for decades.
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Among the most controversial films of recent times and one that requires patience, though that is eventually rewarded. Acted as if in a rehearsal on a soundstage where streets or buildings are indicated by lines of white paint Ð a method that emphasises t
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Most helpful member's review
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85 out of 110 people found this review helpful
Von Trier's masterpiece, a towering work of art
Lars Von Trier is probably the most exciting and daring director in world cinema at the moment, and 'Dogville' finds this extraordinary film-maker at the very peak of his powers.
Grace(Nicole Kidman)is a young woman on the run from gangsters who finds herself in the rocky mountain town of Dogville. After some persuading from the idealistic young Tom(Paul Bettany), the suspicious locals decide to offer her refuge. In return Grace vows to carry out daily chores for them all, and she throws herself willingly into her tasks. However, the police and the mob soon start nosing around and the residents of Dogville decide that Grace needs to pay a higher price for her protection.
Von Trier shoots this tale entirely on a single, bleak soundstage with houses and props marked out on the floor. This bizzare setting contrasted with the determinedly realistic performances of the cast, and John Hurt's perfectly pitched narration, make 'Dogville' a unique experience. Nicole Kidman gives the finest performance of her career as Grace, effortlessly evoking our sympathy as she suffers the town's brutality. Paul Bettany, Stellan Skarsgaard, Patricia Clarkson and James Caan are standouts in the magnificent supporting cast. Von Trier directs events masterfully, slowly building the tension and leading to a climax
of devastating power.
Many critics have labelled Von Trier's masterpiece as being 'Anti-American'. While it's true there are many aspects of the film where this is applicable, Von Trier's focus is more misanthropic in it's outlook. The town of Dogville is a microcosm of humanity which allows Von Trier to despair of what mankind is capable of. 'Dogville' is a place where human kindness and hatred go hand in hand, a place where even the noblest soul can be darkened, a place any lover of serious, provocative cinema should visit immediately. -
Most recent members' review
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7 out of 12 people found this review helpful
I felt robbed
What a hideous arty idea, playing out the action on a theatrical set (worse! - with make believe doors) but without all the benefits of theatre. ie
1. The players aren't in the same room as you and you haven't even left the house.
2. You can't look at the Dogville world freely because the hand-held camera wobbles unnervingly, there's occasional inexplicable blurring, and the selection of medium close-ups over any other kind of shot, and over-editing, makes for viewing hell.
3. There's a narrator! The whole art of storytelling - show, don't tell - is blown in the first 15 minutes because the narration jars with what's (not) happening on the screen. You just wish someone would set fire to the whole cardboard set.
Still, at least the act-ors got to do some the-at-re and I imagine someone felt that this was clever.
I managed 30 minutes - I felt robbed. -
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Dogville
Set in the 1930s during the Depression in the Rocky Mountains, DOGVILLE is Lars von Trier's comment on Americana and his uniquely perverse view of small town life. With period costumes, and flashes of THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER--which is being read by one of the characters--von Trier sets the ...
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