In 1933, a young woman and her father discover an Alabama plantation whose inhabitants live as if slavery had never been abolished. Feeling a sense of duty to those behind the heavy gates, she stays to liberate the people and see them through their first harvest. With four of her father's colleagues and a lawyer, she faces the daunting task of resurrecting the place known as Manderlay.
Direction
Von Trier's theatrical minimalism stabs you repeatedly.
Acting
Howard's desperate optimism curdles perfectly.
Writing
The 'Mam's Law' scene will haunt your ethics.
Director
Lars von Trier
Bryce Dallas Howard
Grace Margaret Mulligan
Isaach de Bankolé
Timothy
Danny Glover
Wilhelm
Willem Dafoe
Grace's Father
Michaël Abiteboul
Thomas
Lauren Bacall
Mam
Jean-Marc Barr
Mr. Robinsson
Geoffrey Bateman
Bertie
Virgile Bramly
Edward
Ruben Brinkman
Bingo
Doña Croll
Venus
Jeremy Davies
Niels
Llewella Gideon
Victoria
Mona Hammond
Old Wilma
John Hurt
Narrator (voice)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot entirely on a bare Fisketorvet stage with chalk outlines and no physical sets—pure theatrical minimalism. Von Trier was banned from Cannes shortly after for Nazi 'jokes' at the press conference.
The 'Mam's Law' contract—where freed slaves vote to maintain their own oppression—ruthlessly satirizes how systems coerce complicity. It's von Trier's American critique, though many found a Danish director's take on US race relations... choice.
DK
GB
