DOGVILLE: An American Parable by Lars von Trier

[chelsea jubis]

Post written by oj. I didn't realize Chels had logged in.
Originally posted by Chris Knipp
You present the basic outline of "Dogville"

I present a rough sinopsis of the first hour, just enough to give the reader an idea of the content involved.

your presentation is rather misleading

What makes it misleading?

certainly can't be considered a "review" -- just a teaser, with little hint of the ordeal to come for many those who watch the whole three hours

I am one of those who watched "the whole three hours" several times with pleasure, at the theatre and at home. Why should I even hint of an "ordeal" I didn't experience?

Isn't it also obvious from the start that Tom is egocentric and inefffectual? I would have at least inserted the word "ostensibly."

I certainly would never say that Tom is introduced as "ineffectual", not when he manages to get everyone behind his plan to give Grace a 2-week trial period. His egocentricity wasn't central to the point I was making, that Tom is presented initially as one trying to help Grace, first by hiding her from pursuers, then by convincing others to accept her.

"Vanya on 42nd Street" seems a very odd comparison to me. "Vanya" is "bare bones" theatrically but it's more like a final reading of a play that's been very well rehearsed; "Dogville" seems roughly improvised and many of the readings are awkward.

I've seen a lot of films and Vanya is the one that most approximates my experience watching Dogville. A cinema correlative.
There are a few scenes in Dogville that don't work as well as most. Trier himself states in the commentary to the dvd that he wishes he had re-shoot the scene of Tom and Grace's first meeting. The film was shot "in continuity" and he feels Bettany's performance improves thereafter.

And there can be no comparison of the writing.

I don't mean to imply that Trier is Chehkov's equal as a writer. We shouldn't compare a piece written for the stage to one that accompanies film images.

I'm also surprised you don't mention Wilder's "Our Town," to which many think von Trier is alluding

Trier states the springboard for his film is the song "Pirate Jenny" from "A three Penny Opera". Americans' familiarity with "Our Town" and the common use of an outsider-as-narrator has resulted in multiple mentions of Wilder in reviews by American crits. The narratives and what each aims to accomplish are quite different.

I also mentioned Brecht in my review because both writers have a schematic and didactic approach.

Trier mentions Brecht, and Steinback, as sources of inspiration.

I cringe to think of America being dealt with in two more brutal movies in the von Trier style.

I look forward to Trier's take on race relations: Manderlay, with new actors in the roles played by Kidman and Caan. Quite a challenge.