Dogville (2003)

Written and Directed by Lars von Trier (one of those former Dogma 95 guys) from Denmark.

With Nicole Kidman and Paul Bettany (Wimbledon, A Knights Tale), also James Caan, and our friend Jeremy Davies (Teknolust).

The film is set in a small town in Colorado in the 1930s. It is very didactic, and its cruety actually reminds me of old moral tales, legends, myths. There are gangsters and lots of achetypes. Timeless and firmly planted in reality. Somehow its unrealistic set design pushed it even more into realism.

I didn't know what to expect when I rented the film, Ben had recommended it and I honestly didn't even read the back cover before pushing play (not that it gives any indication of what the film is like). The prologue opens with a straight shot down on a white outline on a black floor delineating the buildings and streets of a tiny town (pictured above). The entire film takes place on this sparse set of minimal furniture, white lines on the ground, and blackness or whiteness, depending on the time of day. It immediately reminded me of a play I saw in high school, Our Town. That play takes place in the a small town called Grover's Corner and uses the same minimal style of set: imaginary doors to open, imaginary dogs that bark, etc. (interesting to note tha tthe set design that makes Our Town the play so famous was not used in the 1940s film version of the movie... it had a traditional set design.) Both Dogville and Our Town (play) show a dark side to small towns, however, Our Town gets existential about death toward the end whereas Dogville delves into blackmail and cruelty. The film was like watching an a play in the round. The lack of walls in the set makes for very interesting contrasts between actions. It is a very reveling movie. I recommend it.

I also like von Trier's Dancer in The Dark with Bjork... but I love depressing musicals; maybe thats just me.