Dogville (DVD, 2004)

WOW, what a movie. This movie was purchased because Nicole Kidman was in it..never dreaming that it was played entirely on a sound stage with chalk outlines for the streets, houses, etc. When I first hit play, I thought that I had pressed on the wrong selection and that this was some kind of special added information on the film (as maybe introducing the characters.) Then, I waited for it to suddenly change into real scenery, etc. Well, of course, it never does. At first, disappointment set in, feeling sure that this was not going to hold my attention. What followed was that great feeling you get when you are glad to be wrong. It is like reading a book...but, the characters are pictured in the form of a play. The narration just adds to it all. Grace (obviously escaping from the mob) enters in desperation and in need of a safe harbor in which to hide. The town people (15 adults w/a few children) hold one of their frequent meetings to determine what should be done. They decide to give it a two week trial. They eye her with suspicion, but gradually warm to her and allow her to repay them for their kindness with helping with various jobs. She is paid a small amount of money for her basic needs. Grace feels joy being accepted by this small community of good hard working people and as one of their own. She is proud of her contribution to each family and provides all her work with loving care. Then, the police enter, which raises the stakes for Grace and the town. She is now wanted for a robbery which the town knows she could not have committed..as she was with them at the time of the robbery. The town decides that she really owes them now for their kindness since she is more vulnerable than ever with both the mob and the police after her. They lower her wages and add to her jobs, but Grace agrees to this...still seeing the goodness of them harboring her. But, the warmess of the people begins to change...after all she is now wanted by the police..not just the mob. They treat her like a criminal, use her, abuse her. She is humiliated and even the children taunt her. The men start having their way with her. Now, she has three groups from which she needs to escape. Forgetting and ignoring that Grace had been a friend to them...a sincerely good person..they destroy and take all from Grace..leaving her with nothing to lose. But, with their greed and false belief of higher morality, they decide to use her even further. But, they will discover that it was Grace that had the greater power all along and their fate will rest in her hands. Grace, in the final scene, does not forget the one life there that never changed..remained honest and true throughout...the dog. I am not only glad that I watched this movie, but am watching it again as I write and thrilled to have it in my DVD library. This is a story that could happen any where in the world..it is not about location...it is about human nature.

Sometimes a movie is hard to watch. This is one of those times. You are slapped in the face with a reality that maybe we are not as civilized as we make out to be.

Some say this film is anti-American. I disagree. It is anti-human. We tend to put ourselves up on a pedestal as being so much better than all the other animals, when, in reality, the base instincts that we have in common with the animals are just below that surface.

Nicole Kidman was outstanding in this film. She showed just the right range of emotion. She was supported by a great cast that included Paul Bettany and Lauren Bacall, as well as Ben Gazzara, Philip Baker Hall, Patricia Clarkson, Chloë Sevigny, Harriet Andersson, Jeremy Davies, Zeljko Ivanek, Blair Brown and James Caan.

The minimalist set allowed us to focus on the actors and we were rewarded with great performances that showed deep down we will act to serve ourselves when our psyches are threatened.

This was my first Lars von Trier film. I know I will have to see a couple more before I pass judgment, but he really showed me something here.

I initally rented this DVD from Hollywood Video. At the time, I did not realize it was a play on DVD. It was excellent. It kept me glued to my seat. Nicole Kidman puts on an incredible performance. There are numerous famous actors and actresses ie., Lauren Bacall, James Caan, Ben Gazzara just to name a few, and their parts in this play were outstanding. I admit, if I had known it was a play before I rented it, I probably would not have rented it. I'm glad I made the mistake because it was one of the most enjoyable performances I've ever sat through. I discovered later it had won many awards. When I saw it on EBay, I knew I had to buy it to share with my family and friends. Rent or buy it- I promise you won't be disappointed.

I'll vote for pretentiously stupid.

Get top talent, then junk all of the useful lessons of movie work, do things in a stupid, illogical manner, and launch a direct attack on "American" thought and behavior, show something that never happened in the United States, and go out of your way to prove you don't know the country, just hate it-- that's what this wound up being.

Some people love it.

If I get on the elevator with one of those-- well, I hope there are stairs, because I really don't want to be around them.

About 10 mins into this boring turkey we turned it off and decided to toss it in with our yard sale dvds...talk about boring! Worse then a grade school play..Nicole what were you thinking honey?? One would have to be a huge Nicole Kidman (I guess we are not as big Kidman fans as we thought), Lauren Bacall or play fan to enjoy this movie..I give this 0 out of 5 bars!!