Manderlay (2005)

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writer:

Lars von Trier (writer)

Release Date:

3 June 2005 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A case of mistaken identity

Plot:

A story of slavery, set in the 1930s American South.

Plot Keywords:

Father Daughter | Metaphor | Female Nudity | Liberalism | Melodrama

Awards:

1 win & 15 nominations

Cast

Bryce Dallas Howard	...	Grace Margaret Mulligan
Isaach De Bankolé	...	Timothy
Danny Glover	...	Wilhelm
Willem Dafoe	...	Grace's Father
Michaël Abiteboul	...	Thomas
Lauren Bacall	...	Mam
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Mr. Robinsson
Geoffrey Bateman	...	Bertie
Virgile Bramly	...	Edward
Ruben Brinkmann	...	Bingo (as Ruben Brinkman)
Doña Croll	...	Venus (as Dona Croll)
Jeremy Davies	...	Niels
Llewella Gideon	...	Victoria
Mona Hammond	...	Old Wilma
Ginny Holder	...	Elisabeth

Also Known As:

Manderlay (France) (Germany)

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

Denmark | Sweden | Netherlands | France | Germany | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Philippines:R-18 | Hong Kong:III | South Korea:18 | Sweden:11 | Brazil:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Hungary:16 | Australia:MA | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Czech Republic:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Italy:VM14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | UK:15 | Japan:R-18 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Denmark

Company:

Zentropa Entertainments

Trivia:

John C. Reilly was originally signed to play Dr. Hector but was replaced by Slovenian actor Zeljko Ivanek during production. A donkey was put to death while filming, and it was reported in US magazine Entertainment Weekly that this was what prompted Reilly to walk off the set, though he has never commented publicly on the incident or his exact reasons for leaving the film. The executive producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen told Swedish media that "people should not be upset - instead they should think about the situation of the Third World". Since the movie was filmed in Sweden, they followed Swedish law, which says that animals can be put to death in movie productions if a veterinarian is the one carrying out the killing. Director Lars von Trier later cut the scene from the film, which was attributed to protests from animal rights groups. Von Trier said that he didn't want to draw attention away from the content of the film.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: It was in the year of 1933, when Grace and her father were heading southward with their army of gangsters.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Road to Manderlay (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Young Americans

Learning Democracy

In 1933, after leaving Dogville, while traveling with her father (Willem Dafoe) and his gangsters to the south of USA, Grace Margaret Mulligan (Bryce Dallas Howard) sees a slave ready to be punished in a property called Manderlay. The slavery had been abolished seventy years ago, and Grace becomes revolted with the attitude of the owners of Manderlay, keeping slaves in their cotton fields and following predetermined despicable rules called "Mam's Law". Grace decides to stay with some gangsters in Manderlay and give notions of democracy to the slaves and to the white family. When harvest time comes, Grace sees the social and economical reality of Manderlay.

"Manderley" is the second part of Lars von Trier trilogy initiated with the awesome "Dogville" and following the same aesthetic of theatrical scenarios. I was impressed with the magnificent performance of the gorgeous actress Bryce Dallas Howard that I know only from her minor participation in "Book of Love" and her lead role in "The Village". The screenplay of "Manderlay" is great, with the narrative being very well conducted by John Hurt, and in spite of having no action and being developed in a low pace, the plot is interesting until the very last scene. I did not understand the point of Lars von Trier in the end, since Grace defends the democratic principles inclusive with the suffrage, but Wilhelm tells her that "she sent the guns away too soon". Therefore, does Mr. von Trier believe that guns are necessary to establish democracy? Or is he making an analogy to the present situation in Iraq, showing that democracy can not be reached by the use of force? Another point is the social and economical situation of the poor former slaves, free only in laws but without condition to survive seventy years after the abolishment of slavery. The same happened in Brazil and I believe in the countries that used slave labor, therefore the wounds exposed in Manderlay are universal, and not only an American issue. The kind of assistance that Grace gives to the former slaves is full of good intentions and does not resolve their situation, since she has never reached the root of their problem. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Manderlay"