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Directed by: Lars Von Trier

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, William Hurt, Harriet Andersson, Lauren Bacall, James Caan, Patricia Clarkson, Jeremy Davies

Runtime: 178 mins

I have heard this phrase several times over and over again “The American Dream.”

Now just step back and imagine a director who hasn’t even been to America. The director hasn’t seen the country and hasn’t taken a flight in his life. What will you make out of a film made by the man Lars Von Trier. His films are at times called borderline repulsive, at times uplifting, revolutionary and sometimes called quirky. But he is a masterstroke when it comes to bringing different ideas to the already existing versions of cinema.

This one for example shows a broadened idea of how America is perceived to the outside world. They have been polarizing people for years with their so called idealistic leaders who just police the rest of the nations for their own personal gain. There seems to be an end to where cinema can grow in this country a certain limit. They still haven’t opened their minds to themes like communists and gays. They are still immature to sexuality and are very new to when it comes to their cinema.

But Lars Von Trier doesn’t leave any stone unturned by giving the so called Americans an evil barometer that doesn’t stop slipping to the edge. Many people might not know this but some of the choices Nicole had made during this time were very what should I call it impulsive. It was a time of exploration for this talented and beautiful star.

The film is divided into several chapters and all the actors are put on a stage where they enact their parts. Lars Von Trier also adds special effects and sounds in order to show the surroundings in which these people live. The stage is used as an artificiality that this country has been going through for ages. It also brings to light Americas self contained idealism that Lars tries to destroy bit by bit through course of the movie.

The film begins with the Nicole’s character Grace coming to Dogville with sounds of Gunfire at the background. She leaves in a similar fashion but not after being subjected to several sexual encounters by the male citizens of Dogville. But this comes to an end when another visitor comes to the town. There are several interpretations to this movie that you can indulge yourself with. But sometimes we don’t look too far but ourselves to find the answers of some fundamental questions of violence and subjugation this film tries to raise. This can be any country but for now it can be only one super power that lives up to the name of this film.