TC Candler's Review A

"I'll break two figurines. If you don't cry, I'll refrain from breaking the rest of them."

It is fair to say that America is a land of extremes. There are fabulous opportunities, broad freedoms and under-appreciated luxuries to be experienced in the U.S. of A. We are privy to obscene wealth, incomparable power and unlimited choice. But our extremities do also extend in the other direction. America has unnecessary poverty, overwhelming greed and selfishness, a hypocritical tendency to go to war with countries we used to be allies with and to whom we provided weapons. This country has seen capitalism bring the best and the worst out of human nature. It is a double-edged sword that most Americans wouldn't trade for any other system in the world. But we must accept fair criticism... artistic criticism... of all the flaws inherent in that system so that we aren't constantly tuned to the good which outshines the bad. We must not turn a blind eye to the negative aspects of our economic structure, our religious hypocrisies, our social imbalances and our political fallacies.

Lars von Trier's 'Dogville' is a thinly veiled exposé of American morality and all of the inequities in its relatively short history. It tells the story of a foreign influence that enters a small isolated community that is so supremely cut off from the rest of the world in terms of contact and communication that it almost has its own set of laws and moralities.

Nicole Kidman plays Grace, who shows up in a small town named 'Dogville' to the sound of gunfire. She is on the run from gangsters and needs a place to hide. She is greeted by Tom (Bettany), the town philosopher who is sympathetic to her situation. After the gangsters pass through and Grace avoids detection, Tom sets about trying to convince the rest of the town, consisting of little more than a dozen adults and a handful of children, that she should be allowed to stay. In return, she agrees to help out with some of the chores in each household.

From the opening frame the film has a unique visual quality. The entire three hours is filmed on a soundstage with chalk outlines delineating houses, bushes and roads. There is even an outlined porch complete with outlined dog. A few walls and the occasional piece of furniture dot the stage in what resembles a production of 'Our Town' rather than a major motion picture with an A-list cast.

Beyond the stage is either blackness or whiteness depending on the time of day. It is a baron production that forces us to focus on the people rather than the beauty of the Rocky Mountain location where the town is supposedly set. Lars von Trier has always been a unique filmmaker, but this is one of his boldest choices. I don't recall ever seeing anything remotely like this film. Almost every character can be seen at all times through the imaginary walls and around imaginary corners. Opening and closing doors is an action mimed by the actors and the sound effects are added in later. But, as odd as all this sounds, it is supremely easy to get accustomed to and is a testament to the power of movie magic.

Grace is seemingly accepted by the community despite a few minor protests. And she goes about her daily chores and becoming friendly with many of the residents. She even strikes up an innocent romance with Tom. But soon the police arrive in town with a "missing person" flyer which is later changed to a "wanted" flyer.

The residents become fearful that they are doing the wrong thing by allowing Grace to stay and decide that they want her gone. But after some more convincing by Tom the Philosopher, they agree to let her remain on one condition... that she double her work rate for less pay.

Soon, the wall of safety around Grace begins to cave in and she becomes a virtually indentured slave to the residents of Dogville. Things get worse and worse for Grace and she is forced to flee the town only to find herself betrayed by one of the residents and recaptured by the town. She is then restrained so that she may never again escape. She is completely dominated by the town and is reduced to the unpaid town whore. The only one who doesn't rape her nightly is Tom, who wants her to volunteer herself to him. She does not.

The final hour of the film is a shocking condemnation of American passivity in the face of cruelty, Christian hysteria and the fear that ensues, American slavery of the poor, and the pretense of exclusive moral and lawful integrity of the American government. This is a film that resounds vibrantly in today's political climate. Lars von Trier's film is a scathing indictment of the use of American power as the morality police of the world.

With all the flag waving films we get each year, it is only fair to have a film that balances the cinematic equation a little. Many will be offended with the message in this film. It is anti-American. But... any good American film lover will tell you that a great film can be made that is anti-American in much the same way that a horrible film can be made that is pro-American.

The acting is stellar from top to bottom. It is a magnificent ensemble piece headlined by yet another masterful turn by Nicole Kidman. With Eyes Wide Shut, Moulin Rouge, The Others, The Human Stain, Birthday Girl, The Hours, Cold Mountain and Dogville under her belt in recent years, I am hard-pressed to name an actress with a more impressive or diverse résumé over that span. She could easily be Oscar nominated for this performance.

The film is unique to look at and fascinating to hear. The dialogue is consistently interesting and thought-provoking. 'Dogville' is not an easy film to watch... it will only appeal to those with experimental tastes. The three hours pass smoothly... but there is work involved when watching a film like this. It requires its audience to think... which is unfortunately something most people try to avoid when watching a movie.

The ending is shocking and inevitable. It is the director's final dagger. I suppose 'Dogville' is a sad film more than anything else. It's sad because it's true. I cannot recommend it more to those who are comfortable watching films like these... those indie-lovers, those with a more European sensibility, those who aren't afraid that God will smite them down if they think bad thoughts about America. But I cannot recommend it any less to those with the one track notion that God loves America the most, and that we have the moral and ethical grounds to do whatever we want. This is a tough film, brazen in its criticism... But it is one of the best films of the year.

"Kill the children first and tell the mother that you'll stop if she doesn't cry.  I owe her that."

© Written by TC Candler

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - A Richard Propes - A Jacob Hall -

Richard Propes' Comment

"Dogville" is a courageous film that dares to communicate societal truth of the most convicting kind. It is a film that calls into our own ability to care, show compassion, build community and, as author Andrew Vachss might say be "pure evil." I believe I left this film a little more cynical...and, that in itself is an accomplishment. Of course, this cynicism is not necessarily a bad thing. It is based, in some ways, on the reality that people will betray, will hurt, will destroy what means most to you. In many ways, that IS the "American Dream."

As Grace, Nicole Kidman is stellar. This is a performance that begged to be nominated for an Oscar...yet, I'm sure pushed enough buttons that a nomination was nearly impossible...PLUS they had another way to nominate her that was less controversial and less convicting of Hollywood's own ways of dealing with people. Her transformation within the context of this film, and her willingness to take her extreme current marketability and make a courageous film such as this has earned her considerable new respectability from me.
 

Jacob Hall's Comment

N/A