Lars Von Trier's Manderlay

Danish born director Lars Von Trier is no stranger to controversy. His previous films Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark and Dogville have inspired (or should I say provoked) numerous discussions among film buffs with passionate defenders and detractors on both sides of the fence. His latest film, Manderlay will surely invoke similar responses.

Manderlay is the second in a planned trilogy of films called "USA - The Land of Opportunity", the first one being Dogville. Filmed in the same style as Dogville, the film is shot on digital video on a bare stage with minimal props and sets, the film continues the "adventures" of sorts of Grace Mulligan, a ganglord's daughter as she experiences the different facets and follies of the American dream and of American society.�

In the first installment, Grace (played in that film by Nicole Kidman) experiences first hand the hypocrisy and brutality of a small, rather impoverished town in the backwoods of America. Many have lambasted the film's anti-American overtones and complained that Vor Trier has no right to criticize America since he has never set foot there (Von Trier, ever the eccentric, has a huge fear of flying) and dismissed it as a pretentious hogwash of a film made by a clueless eccentric. Others have seen it as an audacious work of art that raises a lot of important questions and acts as a perceptive, honest critique from an outsider.

Manderlay will no doubt invite similar responses. This time around Grace is played by Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of Ron "Opie" Howard and earned good notices in the otherwise critically maligned M. Night Shyamalan movie The Village) and she comes upon an estate called Manderlay where slavery is still alive and well despite it being outlawed for 70 years.

Despite the protests of her ganglord father (Willem Dafoe, taking over the role for James Caan in Dogville), she stays with the noble intention of giving the slaves their freedom and giving them to opportunity to exercise democracy after their "mam" (Lauren Bacall) dies and live a fruitful independent life. This being a Lars Von Trier film, you will know that things will not bode well for Grace.

The film then takes the opportunity to savagely critique the roots of racism in American society. Both sides, black and white, does not come away unscathed and many scenes can be painful to watch and which some people may take offense. In one scene, Grace gets incensed by the racism of the white people in the estate that she orders them to serve the freed slaves in black face. Yes, quite an outrage but that's vintage Von Trier for you.

Whatever your feelings towards the way Von Trier handles the controversial, volatile issues of racism in America, there's no denying that Howard further proves the promise she had shown in The Village. She truly is a revelation here as she bravely essays the role originated by Kidman (who had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts, but will be back for the third USA - Land of Opportunity film where she will alternate the role with Howard) and passes with flying colors.

The supporting cast, headed by Danny Glover, and an ensemble of unknowns make her look even better. Manderlay is still a film that deserves to be seen. The great performances, the avant-garde aesthetics and Von Trier's skewed dystopian vision of, the film has the power to incite strong feelings from its audience. Is it a pretentious film that's an unfair attack on American society by a clueless outsider or a savagely honest critique from an artistic observer? Watch and decide for yourself.