Review of Manderlay (2005) by Naoya K — 09 Apr 2011
What is most impressive is how despite the really rather strident "message" and the deliberately alienating effects (clumsy cuts, deliberate continuity mismatches, how practically no one is in focus for the first 15 minutes, and of course the sparse and utterly "unrealistic" set) you get drawn into the story and ultimately come to sympathise with Grace and feel sorry for her when her idealism falls utterly flat.
A tribute to the power of the story and the performances. Never for a moment are you unaware that this is a film, the final chapter heading even tells you so, yet it is really quite engrossing. Von Trier manages not to oppress his heroine in quite as vicious a way as he usually does.
This review of Manderlay (2005) was written by Naoya K on 09 Apr 2011.
Manderlay has generally received positive reviews.
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