Review of Manderlay (2005) by John M — 22 Jun 2010

I love this style of challenging filmmaking. So going in, I only knew that this was by Lars von Trier and about slavery, but what I didnâ??t know is that this is actually a sequel to Dogville and shot in the same style: a bare, minimal set with the walls of buildings chalk lined on the floor so as to be able to see through the set.

The same character of Grace (only this time played by Bryce Dallas Howard instead of Nicole Kidman) has left Dogville and comes to the property of Manderlay in the Deep South, where a slave is about to be punished by whipping.

She finds out that slavery actually still exists on this piece of land, and she goes about fixing their misguided ways. It is still narrated by John Hurt, and really, his speech and tone of voice make a world of difference; it is like listening to poetry whenever he talks.

I do prefer Kidmanâ??s interpretation of Grace over Howardâ??s; they went different routes with the character. Von Trier may be full himself, but as long as he keeps making films like this, I have no problem with that.

While it is never packs the same punch that Dogville has, it is just as thought provoking and there is a lot to recommend here.