SummaryLars von Trier explores the concept of goodness in this story of a fugitive hiding in a small town in the Rocky Mountains in the 1930s.
Directed By:Lars von Trier
Written By:Lars von Trier
Dogville
Metascore
Generally Favorable
61
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.5
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
61
62% Positive
24 Reviews
24 Reviews
15% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
23% Negative
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
100
Intentionally designed to rile as much as entertain.
100
It really is a masterpiece--von Trier's first, as it happens.
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.5
89% Positive
188 Ratings
188 Ratings
8% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
3% Negative
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
Jan 21, 2026
10
The rhythmic machinery of a theatrical autopsy: A 5.0-star sensational surge of raw, high-tension vengeance.2007(5.0)I watched Dogville in 2007, and it remains a visceral 5.0-star pillar of psychological rebellion in my archive—a raw revelation of how a stagnant floor plan can expose the sensational depravity of human nature. This experience **** the fourth wall of cinematic space by infusing Lars von Trier’s raw, minimalist energy into a narrative rhythm that felt 100% sophisticated and sensational. The narrative rhythm was far from stagnant; it offered a rhythmic journey through the pathetic arrogance of the townspeople and the raw, evolving grace of Grace, leaving me in a state of absolute hororong as the chalk outlines redefined the boundaries of high-tension drama. Seeing the vivid, theatrical intensity of the climactic retribution provided an emotional payoff that felt both raw and sensational, proving that a story about "arrogance" and "mercy" could be a vivid act of storytelling rebellion against stagnant Hollywood tropes. The 95% preservation of my memory is dominated by the rhythmic, raw sound of the invisible doors and the vivid but pathetic cruelty hidden behind polite smiles, creating a permanent, sensational scar of cold justice on my soul. Unlike the stagnant 1.0-star drift of Two Cops 2, this encounter possessed a rebellious soul that turned a pathetic stage into a sensational masterpiece of morality. It stands in my 2007 record as a powerful 5.0-star testament to the raw power of the avant-garde—a high-tension encounter with the vivid rhythm of the abyss that remains one of the most chewy artifacts of my cinematic journey.
Jan 31, 2025
10
Incredible movie about abuse of power, selfishness, greed, and catharsis through revenge. I was blown away by this modern fable.
88
Kidman gives the most emotionally bruising performance of her career in Dogville, a movie that never met a cliche it didn't stomp on.
75
Not for everyone. It is darkly funny, intellectually challenging and obliquely didactic. It also grows bleaker over the course of its nearly three-hour running time.
50
Either an airless allegory about opportunistic Americans or another one of the director's parables of female persecution. OK, maybe it's both. But life is too short for three hours of misanthropy and misogyny.
30
If Dogville has a reason for importance, it is the astonishing all-star ensemble who try very hard to put life into their cardboard characters and make this silly film work.
10
What Lars von Trier has achieved is avant-gardism for idiots. From beginning to end, Dogville is obtuse and dislikable, a whimsical joke wearing cement shoes. [29 March 2004, p. 103]
Jul 11, 2020
10
Is really humanity for humans? This tragedy really successes to show how conditional humanity is.
Nov 28, 2019
10
one of the greatest movies I've seen my whole life. 3 hours worth every second. a one-of-a-kind film that makes you reevaluate whats good and whats bad and leaves you with so many emotions and sometimes helps you through it. I envy the people who haven't watched it yet, cause they have one of the most especiall 3 hours of their life to come.
Sep 2, 2023
6
I wouldnt recommend this film unless you are really into dramatic arts. The movie has a good story and characters. But it is filmed a strange way like a stage act. And not filmed like a normsl movie on real like locations. They talk a lot about the beautiful Mountains around the village but you wont see one at all. The film is also to long. It would have been better if it was 30 or 60 minutes shorters. Longdreaded
Jul 17, 2023
5
Not about human nature, about psychopaths
Dogville lays its foundations on a succession of events that could only happen within a group of a dozen people with total lack of empathy. The whole argument of the movie depends on no character with common sense showing up, which pulverizes the idea that what is being talked about is human nature. It is, however, a good exemplification of psychopathic behaviour and how the author wishes that it wouldn't exist. The film also has a very over-the-line approach with ****, suggesting that it is excusable because its perpetrators don't know any better. The tone is not towards the victim being able to find forgiveness to give, but towards acceptance for rapists to act like they do. Overall, it is a movie that thinks it is doing more than what it actually is doing, but is still an interesting view on the psychopathic psique, however disgusting in its approach to ****.
Aug 26, 2018
0
So disappointed. After about 10 minutes into this "movie", I pressed stop, never to return.
Production Company:
- Zentropa Entertainments
- Isabella Films B.V.
- Something Else B.V.
- Memfis Film
- Trollhättan Film
- Pain Unlimited GmbH Filmproduktion
- Sigma Films
- Zoma Films Ltd.
- Slot Machine
- Liberator Productions
- Film i Väst
- Arte France Cinéma
- France 3 Cinéma
- WDR/Arte
- Danmarks Radio (DR)
- Sveriges Television (SVT)
- Nederlandse Programma Stichting (NPS)
- YLE TV1
- Norsk TV2 AS
- Edith Film Oy
- Spillefilmkompaniet 4 1/2
- Fjeldabe Films AS
- Invicta Capital
- TV 1000
- Planet Pictures
- Canal+
- Det Danske Filminstitut
- Eurimages
- Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI)
- Nordisk Film & TV-Fond
- Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen
- CoBo Fonds
- Foundation for Audiovisual Production
- Nederlands Filmfonds
- Finnish Film Foundation
- European Regional Development Fund
Release Date:Mar 26, 2004
Duration:2 h 58 m
Rating:R
Tagline:A quiet little town not far from here.
Awards
Danish Film Awards (Robert)
• 2 Wins & 8 Nominations
SESC Film Festival, Brazil
• 5 Wins & 5 Nominations
European Film Awards
• 2 Wins & 5 Nominations
