Dogville Review

May 11, 2004 12:33 PM
by [email]

Grade: A-
Director: Lars Von Trier
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany

Stunningly unique, Lars Von Trier's 'Dogville' is theater on screen, a sociological study of a small town American town located in Colarado near the Rocky mountains. Isolated and remote this town encapsulates the human condition.

Von Trier, having never been to America, bases his story during the depression.

When Dancer in the Dark came out, Trier was criticized for making a film about a country he'd never been to. However there are many Americans who have also never visited parts of their own great country, many never leaving their state or owning a passport, so denunciation on this count is not necessary.

When the film opens into it's prologue (there are nine chapters in total), it is to the stark illustration of a town drawn in white lines, on a sound-stage like a floor-plan.

I experienced some discomfort several minutes in, when I realized that this stage was not merely a clever illustration, but the setting for the entire movie.

Claustrophobic and new it was indeed very unnerving. So different that several movie goers left the theatre.

However thankfully soon the actors come to the fore and because this story is above all about the human condition I soon forgot that this was a town without walls.

The casting is pretty inspired, consisting of Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Lauren Bacall, Patricia Clarkson, Philip Baker H, Chloe Sevigny, Ben Gazzara, James Caan and and compelling narration by John Hurt. The acting is excellent.

The story starts when Grace (Nicole Kidman) a beautiful fugitive arrives in Dogville. The town agrees to take her in and hide her, even though she is wanted by the police.

In return she wins their affections by working for them and helping them out with chores. Although they are initially suspicious the residents soon warm to Grace's sweet nature.

Her champion is Tom Edison Jr (Paul Bettany), a perennially blocked writer who not only convinces the town to accept Grace but falls in love with her in the process.

However simmering below the surface of this seemingly idilic arrangement are the darker sides of human nature and they soon begin to raise their heads.

From then on the film becomes a shocking illustration of how ignorance, isolation and power can lead to destruction.

As Lord Acton said "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely"

See Dogville but a with mind wide open.