Dogville (2003)

This movie is
stunning. It is also challenging and long. Almost three hours long.
So let’s make a few quick points about it immediately.

If
you prefer movies with simple storylines and moral outcomes, with an
uptempo storytelling style and a happy ever after ending, my advice
is simple – 

DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE.

On
the other hand, if you like movies with complex ideas, challenging
plots, innovative storytelling, and endings which offer problematic
moral choices, then you should put this title on your “Must See”
list.

“Dogville” offers several challenges for those
who chose to take the plunge. It is 3 hours long. It is without any
traditional set or scenery. The first impression is one of a
minimalist stage play. So it is NOT a traditional movie format. You
will forget about the absence of scenery in very short order. The
story and the acting (the cast is amazing) provide all the settings
required. The movie is of the sort where you don’t realize you’ve
been watching it for three hours till the very end.

Grace
(Kidman) is fleeing for her life when she arrives in the tiny village
of Dogville. Like many little towns, Dogville lost its reason to
exist years before but refuses to die. A handful of run-down houses
with a couple dozen people living in them. Living without hope,
without dreams, living because they can’t imagine any other
existence. When Tom (Bettany) gives her the tour of the town he
“loves” the narration is of the moral and intellectual
shortcomings of the town’s residents. Tom fancies himself an
intellectual and philosopher, so he attempts to change them.

To
pull this off requires a cast of talented, experienced performers and
the movie has that and more. Kidman is an actress that I can take or
leave. Always gorgeous but not always appealing performances for me.
She is fabulous here. Paul Bettany as her love interest and the
“brains” of Dogville is wonderful as well. The town members
come to life through the careful, detailed performances of Lauren
Bacall, Ben Gazzara, Patricia Clarkson, Chloë Sevigny, and Stellan
Skarsgård. These are characters of depth and subtlety.

There
are a couple things that leap out at me. First, the look of the
movie reminds me of the play “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder. The
actors create the town in the audience’s mind. It is an enormous
gamble by a movie maker to try the same thing. Especially for three
hours. Von Trier has the cast for the job.

The second thing
is that this movie is the mirror image, the dark version of “Our
Town” or any Frank Capra movie. Capra shows a world with a dirty
face but a heart of gold. Von Trier shows us a world that looks like
it is a good place, only to reveal later the dark shadow of its
soul. In the end…well, I’ll let the end speak for
itself.

Few movies left me with the feelings of wonder,
and as intellectually challenged as “Dogville”. Not a light, fun
movie, but any fan of great movies won’t want to miss it.

Rating
– ***** Must See