MovieChat Forums > Manderlay (2005) Discussion > As I thought...Pretentious , phony and ...

As I thought...Pretentious , phony and fifth rate...

posted 15 years ago by mmattagirl
6 replies | jump to latest

The minute I saw Von Trier's name I knew it was going to be a paeon of anti-americanism - all the more so since the various sources of his funding were obtained from nations whose own history leaves a great deal to be desired - hey you, Danes!! You invaded England and took over, imposing yourselves onthe English people in the area called the Danelaw - and gouging money out of the rest of them for protection. What a bunch of thugs!!! And Germany - not only enslaving as much of Africa as possible, but killing off 6 million jews, many of them your own well established citizens, within a current lifetime. France, Britain, all the same, all as bad as each other, and all only too eager to distract from your own atrocities by attacking Uncle Sam - well, we've got a black man in the White HOuse now - time to get your own acts together and follow suit.

It's an oldie but a goodie and very true - people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones - so don't, OK???,
OR, and even older but an even better - Let he who is without sin cast the first stone - OK

And find a subject nearer to home in future, Von Trier - no one over here needs your pretentious little epics - make movies about your own warts, heaven knows you've plenty of 'em!!

George... don't do that!

[–] combatreview 15 years ago

I've seen a lot of insults thrown at this film, in several cases by people who didn't seem to grasp what the film was actually about. In fact, I'm quite unable to understand why the 'message' of this film is so offensive to people, including Americans. I was pretty sure that hatred of Tyranny was one of the great American virtues since the writing of the constitution.

So, I just mean, I'd appreciate a lucid clarification of what you're saying, as you appear to be saying that this film is bad because it criticises the US and is therefore hypocritical.

Obviously that's a logical fallacy, and not a very expansive critique, so you surely can't be saying that.

[–] Moonlighting 15 years ago

You haven't actually given a specific example of a scene from the movie, some dialogue, technical features, story, anything whatsoever that is actually WITHIN the film itself, to justify criticising it so extremely. If it were repackaged as "directed by Clint Eastwood" would you still feel the need to come to these messageboards and drudge up international politics. American directors direct films set in other countries as well. Plus, 90% of movies, or fiction of any kind, feature conflict. The "people in glass houses" thing is all well and good if you're content to watch movies about everybody getting along and not offending each other.

A person is not their country. Von Trier may not wish to make movies about Denmark or Danish history (however, Dogville initially was conceived as a project to criticise Denmark's own immigration laws). It is blatantly obvious in both Manderlay and Dogville that the characters in the film are symbols, unrealistic archetypes; it would not be a stretch to suggest that the use of America as the setting for the film is to serve the same purpose- a symbol, an Everyplace.

Looking at your profile you seem obsessed with politics, absolutely nothing wrong with that and people should know about their place in the world, but you spend an awful lot of time posting repeatedly on such boards. Secondly, your "hey you, Danes!" etc make you seem like a member of the Westboro Baptist Church.

Lastly, since Obama started running for President and now that he's been elected, every American actress that comes to England to do an interview has to mention him, every TV show has to put in a reference somewhere, and frankly the International Obamania , especially with regards to people who can't even vote in US elections, is quite sickening.

[–] johnslegers 15 years ago

What this film is all about, is a warning to us all that tradition is in many case a better approach to things than revolutionary new ideas that wish to liberate us all. It's basically a warning against naive liberal ideologies. Your rant shows that you didn't get ANY of it....

[–] Drewy 11 years ago

well, we've got a black man in the White HOuse now

I know this post is some years old now but I must comment anyway.

Yes, the US has a black man in the White House...they even elected him for a second time just last week. But figures show that it is black and Hispanic Americans who are voting for him, not whites so much. And with the diminishing percentage of white voters that may see more black men (women one day??) and even Latinos elected in the future.

But have a look at the racist reaction to his re-election. The tweets are circling the world many times over. Some have expressed hope that the n!gger will be assassinated in this term of office (their terminology, not mine). One famously tweeted that she was moving to Australia because we have a Christian President who stands up for what he believes. (Note: we don't have a President, we have a Prime Minister; he is a she!; and an atheist. This theory is based on a FAKE anti-arab email doing the rounds in the USA). I know you can't judge any country on the ratbag few...and I make no attempt to do so. But to claim that electing Obama ended racism in the US is not even close to being accurate.

In fact, the anger expressed in this and other forums at von Trier's movie may just prove my point.

[–] catdaddyd 8 years ago

I could be wrong, but I believe Obama is half white.

[–] Drooch (5333) 5 years ago

Yes he is, and this film is more about the folly of imposing revolutionary ideologies on traditions that are not ready to accept them.