Film Analysis Of Lars Von Trier's 'Dogville'

Working out conflicts face to face can and cannot make a difference in resolving the problem.“These face-to-face interactions build trust, understanding, and a real sense of a shared mission, and this has made all the difference in the world.” This direct quote from Forbes.com explains how this specific way can improve how the world communicates to each other. Many people will disagree with the previous statement, but it is just one of the basic elements of the social system. Admittedly, not everyone believes in face to face interaction. People can choose whichever side they want to, but people can solve their problems by talking to somebody.

In the 2011 Australian film ‘Red Dog’ directed by Kriv Stenders many issues relating to Australian identity are addressed including the stereotypical Australian values such as conflict with authority and mateship. Stenders uses skilful camera and visual techniques to portray a realistic 1970’s context throughout the movie. Throughout the movie it is evident that Stenders portrays his values and attitudes such as rebellion against authority that abuses power and independence.

Dr. Strangelove is one of the many masterpieces made by the great Stanley Kubrick. The movie was made in 1964 at the Shepperton Studios in London, UK. The time the movie was made is of great importance, in fact, it was made only two years after the Cuban Missile Crisis. Kubrick pictures, in an extremely comical yet somewhat serious way, what the world would look like after one of the two forces (U.S vs. USSR) was triggered in initializing nuclear warfare.

The character stories included throughout the movie are very significant to the personality of the character. These emotions of the characters were captured by Kriv Stenders. The stories of the miners really give the audience a glimpse of who they are deep down. The movie is set in the remote Pilbara is Western Australia the inhabitants need a friend to share the feelings of loneliness and loss, to provide a sense of purpose. Red Dog helps the miners to create a sense of community. Vanno, Jocko and Peeto are unique and are a useful help of aid, also because of their past or personality that they portray through the movie.

The 2012 movie Argo is based off of a true event in 1979. During the Iranian Civil War, President Jimmy Carter gives the Iranian Shah refuge in the U.S. due to his illness. In retaliation, Iranian activists invade the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran and the staff are taken as hostages. This is famously known as the Iranian hostage crises. Although six of the staff members escape and are taken in by the Canadian Ambassador. Determined to rescue the six, Tony Mendez, who is our main character, from the CIA is brought in because of his expertise. After talking to his son one day while watching a science fiction program on TV, he comes up the idea to go into Iran, under the guise of Canadians

“The world is a funny place, no? Sometimes you pick your dog. Sometimes your dog picks you.” Good morning ladies and gentlemen for the AFC, and the quote you have just heard is from the Australian film “Red dog” and is stated to be one of the most powerful quotes in Australian theatre. Australian film has been around for many years and of those years there have been many examples of what some might like to call a masterpiece. Some of these films include the Mad Max series, Gallipoli, Crocodile Dundee but of these films, the film that stands out the most to audiences is the movie Red dog. Red dog is directed by Australian producer Kriv Stenders and was made in 2011. The story takes place during the 1970’s so one would expect to view various counts of racism and sexism but there was no evidense of these themes ever showing as the dialogue had been written for a G rating. It was as if the whole production has had its mouth washed out with soap by there mother for cursing. The reason this film was successful to most was because of the message it portrayed as the movie was based around a young Australian Kelpie named Red dog and how he united a fractured community while searching for his master. The movie is highly regarded today as of the best Australian films as it brings all Australian values to the table. The main reason for the audiences love for this film is because of its portrayal of a character’s loyalty, mateship and the Australian Landscape and this is what occurs throughout the film.

At the time of its release many critics had written this film off considering as an average film with an average story. Chicago Sun-Times labeled it as an attempt to divert away from the traditional cinema, with a new concept silent film and it failed to make an impression on the audience because of lack of creativity in the story. The film had no surprise element in it for the audience.

In the article the authors, Goldmark and McKnight argue that, “the film implicates us in a particular vision of an imperial America. It provides a description of American membership and belonging that depends on specific discourses of a post-colonial whiteness and a racialized Other” (Goldmark & McKnight 101). Throughout the article they discuss different points to prove their argument. Some of these points will be examined one by one as we go on.

“Since socialization occurs throughout the life span and since the mass media in industrial society permeates virtually every aspect of a person’s life, the media’s effect on our concepts of self, although impossible to determine precisely, are probably underestimated” (Saucier 1986, 147). Mass media forms of entertainment have the unique ability to impact large audiences across time and space. The Hollywood thriller Fatal Attraction (1987), with its many references to Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly (1903), proves to be a central film to study when considering how intertextual value may arise from referencing another text through a piece of media as well as what ideology can result from a popular media product. In considering the

Dogville along with Manderlay (2005) and Washington (yet to be made) comprise Von Trier's “Land of Opportunities” trilogy, based on American society. Dogville illustrates the civil rights portion of American history. Fear, and money, Von trier asserts, are the two driving forces in the oppression of America’s disenfranchised populations. Judging by Dogville’s ending credit sequence, these losers include different shades of impoverishment and color in America, from the depression era all the way up to the turn of the century. Which hints at the possibility that the slavery Von trier is choosing to comment on is not the literal slavery in America’s history but a figurative slavery, a contemporary slavery.

The film, the Untouchables, was directed by Brian De Palma. It was set in the prohibition era, which was right at the start of the 1920’s. Prohibition can be described as a law that made selling and manufacturing alcohol illegal. By putting this law into effect, it actually increased the amount of crime and violence throughout cities in the US. This was ultimately due to the rise in organized crime, also known as gangs. In the movie specifically, it was centered around the rise of the Mafia in Chicago. By looking at the production of the movie, we can see how during prohibition, the Mafia controls everything and the violence ultimately it leads to.

The protagonists and social conflicts in the film The Visitor presented living experience to explore that are different to my personal history. The four actors in the film are all unique from one another, but they possess a universal understanding and awareness that are not different from the life that I know. Walter Vale is a single white male, a widowed and a father who is at the end of his professional career as an academic professor. Walter adult son lives in London and he pretends to be happy with his work, but the truth is he felt unsatisfied, this was expressed at the end of the film. You also saw in the beginning of the movie Walter also didn’t enjoy his piano lessons he took from an elderly woman. Walter found meaning in life the

Euripides Medea is a play that largely embodies themes of sex and gender within Greek life, marriage and society. Lars Von Trier, Danish Screen writer, controversially took on and altered Euripides' classic Medea in the form of film. Although complex and compelling, Von Trier's film fails to capture major themes and qualities presented in the text version of the infamous Medea and relay them to an audience. Through the use of close reading and comparison, it can be proved that Lars Von Trier's film depiction of Euripides' Medea does not allow an audience to see the complexity and major themes of gender and masculinity that Euripides originally portrays to his audience, but rather depicts a story of lost love and femininity within the protagonist.

The film “The Prestige” is one of many masterful Nolan films that walks the line between being a meta film about the film industry, and being focused on immersing the audience in the actual content of the film. At a close inspection, comparisons to the film industry can be seen, but they are not so obvious to distract the audience from the central conflicts that are at the forefront of the film. The subject of the film could most easily be defined as surrounding the topics of obsession or fame. More specifically, the obsession of fame, and the illusion of happiness that fame projects. The main characters of the movie both urn for the fame of being the world’s most successful entertainer, even if for different reasons.

The film Dogtown Redemption has given me new insight on a community that I have lived only twenty minutes away from my entire life. The film displays a vast number of struggles of displaced homeless community members within West Oakland. Each story is very eye-opening and allows outsiders a deeper look into the everyday challenges that these individuals must face on a daily basis. One character in this film that I found particularly interesting was Landon. I was especially intrigued by Landon’s life story and his ability to overcome immense obstacles in his life. He shows great perseverance and a desire to better himself as well those around him in the film. Landon demonstrates many categories within the OTPF Domains and he could absolutely benefit from working with an occupational therapist to progress his life goals even further.