Ranking Every Lars Von Trier Film Worst To Best

The second part of von Trier's as-yet-unfinished USA - A Land of Opportunities Trilogy, Manderlay stars Bryce Dallas Howard as Grace (first seen played by Nicole Kidman in Dogville), a woman who returns home with her father (Willem Dafoe) and learns that slavery is still being practised in her old town. Grace and her father then work to liberate the slaves, creating a more standard drama than von Trier is used to.

With its provocative themes and angry message, the film sometimes slips into forced sentimentality and lacks the subtly needed to convey its message with the raw power of von Trier's other pictures. It is however very well made, shot on a bare sound stage and set in only one location. Its simplistic setting, mixed with a great starring turn from Howard and its well-meaning sincerity, makes Manderlay one of von Trier's most surprising films, and though not as effective as others in his filmography is still a solid slice of devilish drama.