Archive of films Manderlay / Manderlay
In the second instalment of a planned “American” trilogy, Lars von Trier once again presents Grace, the heroine of his last film Dogville. Now she is on a plantation called Manderlay confronting the appalling cruelty and injustice of slavery. Will she be content to merely stand by and watch?
Synopsis
In the second instalment of a planned American trilogy, based on motifs of the United States as a land of unlimited opportunity, Danish enfant terrible Lars von Trier brings the character of Grace to the screen once again. She was also the heroine of his last picture Dogville, though Nicole Kidman is here replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard (known from M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village). At the beginning of the thirties, Grace and her father move from Colorado to Alabama, to an old plantation named Manderlay where they are confronted with the appalling cruelty and injustice of slavery. Unable to idly stand by, Grace decides to do something. But with what result? The social order, maintained for decades, falls apart but does it serve to teach slaves democracy?
About the director
Lars von Trier (b. 1956, Copenhagen) studied at the National Film School of Denmark, graduating with the noteworthy Images of Relief (1982), but before coming to feature films he shot more than 50 commercials. His feature debut, The Element of Crime (1984), was well received, winning the Technical Grand Prize at Cannes. Then followed the dramas Epidemic (1987) and Europa (1991; Jury Prize at Cannes), the melodrama Breaking the Waves (1996; Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, European Film Award for Best Film), the anti-musical Dancer in the Dark (2000; Palme d’Or at Cannes), The Idiots (1998), the first two parts of a planned trilogy: Dogville (2003) and Manderlay (2005). He experiments in television as well (Medea, 1988; the series “The Kingdom”/“Riget”, the collective New Year’s performance D-dag). He co-founded the enterprising production company Zentropa, and is coauthor of the moralistic, style-generating directors’ manifesto Dogma 95, which he has used, however, only to shoot The Idiots.
Contacts
TrustNordisk
Filmbyen 22, 2650, Hvidovre
Denmark
Tel: +45 368 687 88
Fax: +45 367 744 48
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.trustnordisk.com
Artcam Films
Rašínovo nábřeží 6, 128 00, Praha 2
Czech Republic
Tel: +420 221 411 619
Fax: +420 221 411 699
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.artcam.cz
Danish Film Institute
Gothersgade 55, 1123, Copenhagen
Denmark
Tel: +45 337 434 00
Fax: +45 337 434 01
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.dfi.dk
Zentropa Entertainments ApS
Filmbyen 24, DK - 2650, Hvidovre
Denmark
Tel: +45 36 868 920
Fax: +45 36 868 789
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.zentropa.dk
About the film
Color, 35 mm
Section: | Horizons |
---|---|
Director: | Lars von Trier |
Screenplay: | Lars von Trier |
Dir. of Photography: | Anthony Dod Mantle |
Editor: | Molly Malene Stensgård |
Producer: | Vibeke Windeløv |
Production: | Zentropa Entertainments ApS |
Cast: | Bryce Dallas Howard, Isaach De Bankolé, Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe |
Contact: | TrustNordisk, Artcam Films, Danish Film Institute, Zentropa Entertainments ApS |
Guests
Tine Klint
Sales Agent
Barbora Mudrová
Other, TV Representative
Christian Juhl Lemche
Film Institution Rep.
Hanne Skjodt
Film Institution Rep.
Jeremy Davies
Actor