Alex Deleon Viewed at Valladolid, 2006: The big cash prize of 50,000 Euros, the 50th Anniversary Prize commemorating the fifty years of the Seminci festival, was in fact shared ("ex-aequo" is the elegant Latin term) by the two festival favorites, Austrian Michael Haneke, for his puzzling French thriller, "Caché" (Hidden), and the quirky Dane, Lars von Trier, for his pseudo-American successor to "Dogville", "Manderlay". From a purely personal point of view I must say that I regard Von Trier films as an acquired taste (like poison) which I have never acquired -- in fact I have always found them rather revolting and have never been able to sit through one of his schizzy nightmares from beginning to end -- although I did sort of make it through "Dogville" -- by sheer will power, with many cigarette breaks -- but mainly because of a fascination with Nicole Kidman's uncannily shapely nose. In short I thought "Dogville" was nothing but pretentious b*****t, and I couldn't believe that an actress like Lauren Bacall lent her prestige to it, but -- I have to admit -- against my better judgement -- that I actually (sort of) liked "Manderlay". For one thing, Bacall, who was wooden in "Dogville", dies off in the first ten minutes, "Grace", who was Kidman in the first installment of this projected trilogy, has now metamorphosed into a less glamorous but far more credible actress, Bryce Dallas Howard, and a ponderous James Caan as Grace's gangster father, has been replaced by a more digestible (if slightly ridiculous) Willem Defoe, but what really makes "Manderlay" work as a drama (rather than a pretentious lecture on the sad state of the world and the decay of the American Dream ) is the excellent cast of black actors, especially Danny Glover, but all uniformly good -- who somehow infuse this Von Trier head game with some real soul. Another thing which helps, is that Von Trier has mercifully gotten a little away from the overweaning Monopoly Board sets and invisible clicking doors which made "Dogville" unbearable after the first half hour. There is still, in "Manderlay", a certain amount of the artificial Monopoly Board geometry in place, but not so much that it totally distracts as it did in the earlier film. Who knows, maybe Part III will be set on a Ouija Board -- in any case, "Manderlay" has a certain feeling going for it that makes it far more watchable than any of Von Trier's previous sessions of celluloid sado-masochism.The title, incidentally, has nothing to do with Kipling•s Mandalay, but is a co-opting of the name of the spooky mansion in Hitchcock's "Rebeccah". Here it is the name of a strange Alabama plantation where, in 1933, slavery is still going on and the slaves seem to like it that way -- for as head slave Danny Glover (great role) puts it, "We ain't reddy fo' no freedom yet -- we's better off dis way".

cagatlin48 I just finished viewing this movie (Manderlay) and am still trying to catch my breath. As an African American woman who is 60+, I have history on the race relations in America. Raised in Washington DC during the 60s, I was at the March on Washington. In school, I questioned the validity of Black folks and their contribution to this country. I was amazed when finally reading about the contributions of Africans not only to this country but the world. As an actor in theater and film, I found this movie flawless and knew after 10 minutes that someone outside of the USA wrote the script. I loved this film, found it by accident, and will research to determine if it was ever shown in this town. Beautiful piece of work but I agree that for most Americans, it will not set with them easily. I would make it required viewing for high school and college students. Well done

daytraider The way that director Lars Von Trier can point his finger so solemnly and self-importantly at a country he's never lived in is insufferable. The look of the film is tough on the eyes to watch. Can't a serious film be at least mildly pleasing aesthetically? I'd hope so. Cinema is a visual art form after all. And Von Trier's message? Moronic obvious nonsense about slavery still existing 70 years later, the fact that capitalism itself becomes slavery, and comparing Grace's (Bryce Dallas Howard) fight to end the slavery at Manderlay with the U.S. invasion of Iraq. As in "Dogville", Von Trier has no concept of what he speaks. Thankfully I didn't pay to see the movie so I'm glad he didn't reap any rewards from me or my crew.

Jamie_Seaton it basically follows what happens in dogville but different actors playing grace and her gangster father, the gangster father played by Willem dafoe has only a small part to play but is very effective. originally played by James caan. i really do think grace should have been played by Nicole kidman like in dogville, but grace is acted out by Bryce Dallas Howard who i don't like all that much because of lady in the water, terrible film. Bryce is OK in this film, wouldn't say amazing though. i think the best performance in this is played by Danny glover but the best thing about this film that kept me glued was the narration by john hurt, the guy is a legend. he isn't the greatest in front of the camera but I'm so hoping he narrates more titles. now i wouldn't advise everyone to watch this film as it is filmed on a stage (just like dogville) and there's very little props around. you have to basically imagine that there in a house and not on a stage which i think is very original and brilliant and it works. good job to Lars Von trier for making another brilliant, dogville is the better on of the two though. looking forward to the third in the series "wasington"........... 8/10....... j.d seaton