Dogville (2003)
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A woman on the run from mobsters finds refuge in a small, isolated mountain town where she must perform physical labor in exchange for safety.
The story
In the isolated Rocky Mountain town of Dogville, a woman named Grace Mulligan is fleeing from mobsters. She finds refuge in the town, where she is offered a place to stay in exchange for performing physical labor. The town's residents, led by an idealistic philosopher named Tom, decide to host her as a test of their morality. Grace begins to integrate into the community by performing various chores and tasks for the locals. However, the situation becomes complicated when the authorities begin to search for her, forcing the town to decide whether to protect her or turn her over to the law.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Grace Mulligan, a fugitive from mobsters, is hidden in the town of Dogville by Tom Edison Jr. The townspeople agree to a two-week trial where Grace performs physical labor to earn their trust. She successfully integrates into the community, performing tasks for various residents, including a blind recluse and a shopkeeper. During this time, she even manages to convince the town to let her stay permanently. However, tensions rise when a 'Wanted' poster is issued for her. The town demands more labor from her in exchange for continued protection. The situation deteriorates into abuse and harassment as the community's patience wears thin. After a series of escalating conflicts, including a physical assault by a man named Chuck, Grace's situation becomes dire. Tom eventually plans her escape, but a betrayal leads to her being enslaved and tormented by the town. In the final act, Grace's identity as a mob boss's daughter is revealed. She ultimately orders the destruction of Dogville and the execution of its residents, leaving only a dog named Moses alive. The film concludes with a montage of images of American poverty.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 178
- Production countries
- Denmark; United Kingdom; Sweden; France; Germany
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lars von Trier
- Writers
- Lars von Trier · writer
- Cast and characters
- Nicole Kidman · Grace Mulligan; Paul Bettany · Tom Edison Jr.; John Hurt · narrator
- Genres
- experimental; arthouse drama; gangster; crime drama
- Themes
- morality; humanity; misanthropy; ,
- Tone and mood
- experimental; austere; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- allegory; survival; social commentary
- Franchise connections
- USA: Land of Opportunities trilogy
- Reception
- The film received highly polarized reviews, with some critics calling it a masterpiece and others criticizing it as pretentious or tedious. It has gained significant stature over time, being included in several 'best of' lists and praised by prominent directors.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 61 · scale: 100
- Production trivia
- The film was shot on high-definition video in a studio in Trollhättan, Sweden.; The film was inspired by the theater of Bertolt Brecht.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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