: Mandelay
Author: Lars von Trier
Director: Lars von Trier
This is von Trier’s followup to the incredible Dogville; it picks up where there first left off, with the girl and her father leaving Dogville. (This time the girl is played by Bryce Dallas Howard instead of Nicole Kidman; I didn’t think that would work, but it was fine.) The family travel into the south and happen upon a plantation called Mandelay where Blanche discovers that slavery is still very much in force. She is shocked and horrified and vows to free the slaves — yet like all good intentions, the results are not as she expected. Are the slaves better off free? Without any assets or education, are the slaves actually free? Many such questions are asked as the film explores racism from many angles. I found this fascinating, especially in light of what’s happening today in Iraq where we get similar adverse reactions from those freed from oppression. Unfortunately, while this film has some of the elements that made Dogville so astonishing, it lacks drama and punch. There are a few twists, and it tries hard to be shocking, but doesn’t live up to the first film. It’s not bad, exactly; I suppose if you hadn’t seen Dogville you’d find it remarkable. Unfortunately most people who see this would have seen the first and in comparison this one pales. It’s still interesting and worth seeing if you liked Dogville; just don’t expect the same magic a second time.
Topic: [/movie] |
