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Nicole Kidman, John Hurt, Paul Bettany, Philip Baker Hall, James Caan ... see more see more... , Stellan Skarsgård , Jeremy Davies , Chloë Sevigny , Patricia Clarkson , Ben Gazzara , Blair Brown , Lauren Bacall , Zeljko Ivanek , Harriet Andersson , Udo Kier , Cleo King , Miles Purinton , Bill Raymond , Siobhan Fallon-Hogan , Shauna Shim , Jean-Marc Barr , Erich Silva , Trinity Stiles , Jimmy Uller , Cynthia Almeida , Ulf Anderson , Max Angervall , Robert Arlinder , Evelina Brinkemo , Anna Brobeck , Jan Coster , Eva Ermenz , Elisabeth Falk , Mattias Fredriksson , Atle Fägersten , Andreas Galle , Barry Grant , Niklas Henriksson , Lásl Hágó , Gunnar Johansson , Mikael Johansson , Sonny Johnson , Hans Karlsson , Susan Ketola , Lee R. King , Kirkbakk. Oskar , Sara Klingvall , Patricia Page Leandersson , Tilde Lindgren , Cecilia Lindquist , ??ke Ljung , Evelina Lundqvist , Alexandra Mehrstam , Sune Myrfalk , Helga Olofsson , Kent Vikmo , Eric Voge , Ove Wolf , Fafnnette Zetterström , Ingvar ??rner

Set in a small fictional town in the U.S. during the 1930s, Lars von Trier's Dogville was filmed in a studio with a minimal set and features narration by John Hurt. On the run from a group of gangster... read more read more...s, Grace (Nicole Kidman) arrives in the small mining town of Dogville. Town philosopher Tom Edison (Paul Bettany) takes her in and strikes a deal with her: She'll work for the townsfolk in exchange for a safe place to hide; after two weeks the people will vote for her to either stay or go. Grace agrees to the terms and ends up meeting the locals, including the town doctor (Philip Baker Hall), shopkeeper (Lauren Bacall), and apple farmer (Stellan Skarsgård). Eventually, Grace's standing in the town takes a downward shift as the search for her intensifies. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

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88% liked it

51,815 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

152 critics

R, 2 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Lars von Trier

Release Date: May 1, 2003

Keywords: revenge

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DVD Release Date: August 24, 2004

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Stats: 3,771 reviews

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Dogville Dogville Dogville Dogville Lauren Bacall as Ma Ginger in Dogville (2003) Paul Bettany as Tom Edison, Nicole Kidman as Grace, Margaret Mulligan in Dogville (2003) Paul Bettany as Tom Edison, Nicole Kidman as Grace, Margaret Mulligan in Dogville (2003) Dogville Paul Bettany as Tom Edison in Dogville (2003) Scene From Dogville (2003) Grace Dogville Nicole Kidman as Grace Margaret Mulligan in Dogville (2003) Nicole Kidman as Grace Margaret Mulligan in Dogville (2003) Nicole Kidman as Grace Margaret Mulligan in Dogville (2003) Scene From Dogville (2003) Nicole Kidman as Grace Margaret Mulligan with Jean-Marc Barr as The Man with the Big Hat in Dogville (2003) Nicole Kidman as Grace Margaret Mulligan with co-star in Dogville (2003)
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Flixster Reviews (3,771)

  • moonrivers
    May 10, 2012
    moonrivers
    The first time I tried to watch this I saw ART spray painted over everything by dint of the stripped down sets and, w/o knowing more or wanting to, immediately turned it off. Finally deciding to listen to whatever the raving lunatic might have to say (that's what I think when I ... read moresee ART), regretting it as I did, and lo, von Trier does have something to say in this reworking of the Christ tale when an innocent stranger comes to a small town. Its intelligent, thought provoking, brave, hey, and loaded with plum talent altho, make no mistake, this is Kidman's and von Trier's show.
  • FilmFanatik
    March 9, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    If Lars von Trier is anything, he's challenging as a filmmaker. His films are beyond different, and like Terrence Malick, they cause a polarizing to audiences watching them. I happen to appreciate any filmmaker trying to do something different and not make what I call "cookie cut... read moreter movies". Dogville is just such an example of a movie than is completely unorthodox. I'm not going to comment on this film's meaning, or whether or not I agree with it. It's certainly thought-provoking, and people far more interested in it than I have said a great deal of things about it. My main concern with the film is its length. The film is just a little over three hours, but it felt more like four hours long. There's a lot of repetition in the dialogue and some scenes that seem to go nowhere. If this were a book, I would have cut a couple of chapters out of it. The drama in the film is very effective, but it all goes on a little too long, making it feel disparaging to a viewer. Was that the intention of Lars von Trier? I don't know, maybe, but it didn't work that well for me and made me want the film to end sooner than it actually did. I liked the performances, the look and the style of the film, but if it had been about a half hour or nearly an hour shorter, it would have benefitted greatly.
  • hunterjt13
    November 3, 2011
    hunterjt13
    A mysterious woman arrives at a small mountain town and falls in love with a writer as she helps the town's citizens with their daily lives, but slowly, the town's darker side comes out.
    Is it possible that I've found a film that is too pessimistic even for me? No, not really. ... read moreBut Lars von Trier's post-modern opus certainly comes close. His direction and story are remarkably grim, revealing human beings' seemingly natural penchant for destruction and selfishness. The story unfolds slowly, but it's captivating, and the three hours goes quickly.
    I also liked von Trier's concept. The action takes place on a large sound stage, and chalk lines denote residences and even one family's dog; doors and gooseberry bushes are pantomimed. Toward the beginning I wondered if the concept would get in the way of the story, but when "Dogville's teeth are bared" (one of the Narrator's lines), the concept added to the film's effect: essentially, everything is out in the open in Dogville, but people still don't have the self-reflective awareness needed for self-condemnation.
    However, I did think some of the Narrator's lines were too diegetic, and the second and third acts are more demonstrative than believable.
    Overall, though, Dogville is a fascinating and grim condemnation of the darker parts of America with an inventive style all its own.
  • imrealgod
    October 3, 2011
    imrealgod
    Although the movie belongs to one of my favorite genres and had high ratings, I'd been avoiding it because of its length. Knowing not whether it was wise or otherwise, I finally decided to watch it. Of course, implementation of the decision took some more time. Wonderfully cast a... read morend performed, the movie would have only benefited from a tighter editing. Told in nine chapters and a prologue, it was quite a task to get through to the end. The first eight chapters, a bit tedious, were about average on the whole. And while I'm satisfied with what the ending was, the way it was executed was terrible. Most of the conversations in the last chapter, while significant, got unnecessarily repetitious and irritably stretched the movie. Except for its execution, the movie is good enough. Despite of my rating, I'd be at a loss if one asks me right now whether I'd recommend it or not, given my overall experience. The movie would have been far much better had it been in better hands, but looking at the ratings by others, I guess I'm once again in the minority.
  • fernandorafael
    September 11, 2011
    fernandorafael
    Like nothing you've ever seen before (although you could say the same thing about any Lars Von Trier film). The mise-en-scène is fresh, original and challenging, but it ultimately doesn't work well on the screen. More drama and character development (and less philosophical mumbo ... read morejumbo) would've worked wonders. Dogville raises a question: can a film be too experimental? If so, this would be the perfect example. The cast is a dream, though, particularly Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Stellan Skarsgård and eljko Ivanek.
  • flixsterman
    February 17, 2011
    flixsterman
    Von Trier is nothing if he's not courageous. His high-risk transparent stage style is at first off-putting but it soon works its magic. What a director. What a cast. What a film.
  • wildaly14
    February 4, 2011
    wildaly14
    The lack of scenery and theater-like view of the film is strange at first but by the time Kidman is in the picture you're no longer aware of this... and if you are you will simply see that it is all for your better enjoyment of the film. A criticism to these horrible times we are... read more living in and a clear picture that everything we do is never really good enough. This film is not to be missed and to be watched more than once as well!!!
  • fb619846742
    June 16, 2010
    fb619846742
    A simple story concerning a beautiful young woman (Nicole Kidman) on the run from gangsters, and how the town that provides her safe haven exploits her mentally and physically in various ways. An incredibly unique, bravely shot, powerfully acted piece of art that deserves to be s... read moreeen. While I don't necessarily agree with everything director Lars von Trier tries to prove, I respect the balls he had putting this thing on-screen. I especially admire the end of the film, which is extremely unsettling but surprisingly fitting. Nicole Kidman's mesmerizing performance goes yards here - her character is a one of a kind.
  • SirPant
    September 2, 2009
    SirPant
    Stripped down to its raw essentials, Dogville is Dogma at its finest. Surprisingly it still feels like cinema as apposed to theatre. Its probably the most original film of the last decade, and again, totally overlooked and misunderstood. People complain there is something lacking... read more in this film, they're right, it lacks all the unnecessary guff that people have come to expect from lazy cinema and it is better for it. Excellent film, excellent cast, a truly brilliant film.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    April 24, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    Now im all up for being differnt and experimenting with making films but i couldnt help but think this film was a bunch of rubbish its weird and boring and worse its narrated its sort of set in a town but the whole layout of the film is like on a stag with props so this film was ... read moreweird boring and shit and pretty poorly acted as well!

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Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

There's nothing static about [Von Trier's] technique, but everything else about the movie is dreary and closed off. Full Review

David Denby
August 1, 2004
David Denby, New Yorker

What Lars von Trier has achieved is avant-gardism for idiots.

Roger Moore
May 28, 2004
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Fascinating for a while but, in the end, just sleep-inducing. Full Review

Richard Nilsen
May 13, 2004
Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic

It's a tough sit through tough questions. Full Review

Joe Baltake
April 23, 2004
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Singular and unforgettable -- the work of a brilliant crackpot. Full Review

Andrew Sarris
April 22, 2004
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

You just have to see it to believe it. Frankly, I have never seen anything like it, which is not to say that it's good or bad, but it is different and even original. Full Review

Bob Longino
April 17, 2004
Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It's simply a movie whose bite is as harsh and hard as its bark. Full Review

Eric Harrison
April 16, 2004
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

Slow-moving but engrossing, it feels shorter, and any reservations you may have about the unorthodox approach are washed away by its unexpected and purgative ending. Full Review

Tom Long
April 16, 2004
Tom Long, Detroit News

Dogville is in no way a standard film and likely won't appeal to many. But Von Trier is so inventive, so outlandish and so filled with energy he has to at least be admired.

Terry Lawson
April 16, 2004
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Nearly as powerful as Von Trier's Dancer in the Dark. Full Review

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    • Grace: You can't stand that I remind you of what it was you came here to find.
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