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Manderlay streaming

2005 Movie Drama
By: Lars von Trier With: Danny Glover, Lauren Bacall, Bryce Dallas Howard, Isaach De Bankolé, Willem Dafoe

After gangster Mulligan's (Willem Dafoe's) cars colony, fleeing northern justice, finds a hiding place in Alabama, spoiled, naive daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) refuses to travel on after seeing the Manderlay cotton plantation being run under slavery rules, called Mam's (Lauren Bacall's) law, including flogging. She keeps half of dad's goons as guard to force the dying matriarch-owner's heirs, which she shamelessly dispossesses and reduces to "staff", to taste destitution under absurd, gun-imposed contracts. The "slaves" are made free partners, supposed to vote for progress after lessons from Grace. But almost all of her democracy-pupils prove to be fickle, dumb, and selfish, except old Wilhelm (Danny Glover). Her and their ignorance in Southern planting and crafty Dixie ways means more problems are created then solved. By the time dad returns to pick her up or abandon her for good, she's the one who has learned and changed the most.

Filmium rating
70%

Mood

Controversial
Dark
Disturbing
Frustrating
Intense
Political
Serious
Thought-Provoking

Cast & Crew

Lars von Trier
Michaël Abiteboul
Isaach De Bankolé
Willem Dafoe
Lauren Bacall
Danny Glover
Jean-Marc Barr
Bryce Dallas Howard
Chloë Sevigny
Jeremy Davies
John Hurt
Udo Kier

Budget

Art-House
Independent

Cinematic Technique

Black Box Theater
Dialogue-Driven
Minimalist Staging
Sound Stage
Stylized
Theatrical

Film Movements

Avant-Garde
Experimental

Narrative Structure

Chapter-Based
Chaptered
Episodic
Focused
Linear

Pace

Contemplative
Deliberate
Measured
Slow-Paced

Runtime

Long

Soundtrack

Ambient
Classical Score
Vivaldi

Style

Avant-Garde
Minimalist
Theatrical

Time-Period

1930S
Great Depression

Central Conflict

Freedom Vs Oppression
Freedom Vs. Control
Idealism Vs Reality
Power Dynamics
Racial Justice
Social Change

Characters

Grace Mulligan
Slaves
White Landowners

Ending

Ambiguous
Bittersweet
Disillusioning
Disillusionment
Failure

Historical Context

1930S
Great Depression
Post-Emancipation

Key Plot Points

Failed Reforms
Grace'S Intervention
Mom'S Law
Slave Community

Plot

Conflict
Freedom
Oppression
Post-Civil War South
Racial Inequality
Slavery Critique

Setting

1930S
Isolated Community
Plantation
Rural Alabama

Shooting Location

Sound Stage
Studio

Theme

Freedom
Moral Failure
Oppression
Power And Control
Racial Inequality
Social Change

Genre

Avant-Garde
Drama
Political
Political Commentary

Audiences

Adult
Adults
Art-House Cinephiles
Art-House Enthusiasts
Politically Engaged
Socially Conscious Viewers

Titles

Manderlay

Box Office Success

Low Gross

Critical Reception

50% Rotten Tomatoes
Average Score
Mixed Reviews

Festivals

Cannes Film Festival

Ratings

Mixed

Reception

Art-House
Cannes Entry
Cannes Film Festival
Controversial
Mixed Reviews
Political Statement

Production Countries

Belgium
Denmark
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Sweden

Release Year

2005
mowizz ID: a7407ee0-3596-4cea-b133-d22c215cf641
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