Lars Von Trier directs Bryce Dallas Howard, Danny Glover and Isaach de Bankolé in this arthouse drama where Grace, the liberated daughter of a gangster, finds herself trying to liberate a lost-in-time slave plantation.

Didactic, challenging, bleak. Possibly Von Trier’s best on reflection. Filmed in ugly DV, on a black box set, with stars as glorified extras, and John Hurt giving an ironic detached narration… this works. From its incendiary premise, to its loaded sex scenes, to its murky conclusions… to its powerful end credit sequence. This is the rare time that Von Trier’s political astuteness seemingly overpowers his smirking prankster. He is helped massively by Dallas Howard’s naive but honest central turn. Superior to Dogville.

8

Perfect Double Bill: Dogville (2003)

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