The Dogme 95 concept in theory and practice aims to get back to the natural way of filmmaking which also means doing away with some of the modern appliances that makes the ardent job of filmmaking easier. ‘Dogme 95’ which he conceptualized along with fellow Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg. The way Lars von Trier maintains a fine balance between presenting a compelling narrative and the use of unconventional means of filmmaking is commendable. It holds a pride position in the list of ‘1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die’. It ran for two glorious seasons and even inspired an American rip off known as ‘kingdom Hospital’. The calculated use of sepia tinted colour scheme also added to the eeriness of the show. The series is noted for and equally criticized for a presenting a chorus of dishwashers with Down Syndrome and sensationalizing a medical condition. The series is set in a Danish hospital ward where the medical staff and patients experiences disturbing supernatural happenings. The Kingdom (1994)Īlright ‘The Kingdom’ is actually a miniseries of the early 90s but it received such favourable responses from critics and viewers alike that it became a sort of identity for the filmmaker in discussion. It won three awards at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival but lost out on the Palme d’Or to ‘Barton Fink’ by the Coen brothers which made the director visibly quite upset. It also helped that apart from all that eye catching visuals, the film had a gripping story line and a heart and soul to match the chaos so inherent to the plot. The film set new benchmarks in the field of visual experimentation on screen. Add to it the director’s experimentation of combining black and white visuals with intrusions of colour and use of rear projection screens which makes watching the film a surrealistic experience. The film has all the makings of a crowd pleaser – an idealistic American, post WW II Germany and a Pro Nazi femme fatale. The film also works as a situational comedy with the aid of the impeccable coming timing of Danish actor Jens Albinus.
The plot involves a scheming and secretive owner of a Danish IT firm who almost falls into the grave dug by him when he decides to sell it to potential buyer. ‘The Boss of it All’ stands out as the only attempt by the prolific director in dabbling with full fledged comedy – a black comedy to be precise – and he proved that he can bring something new to the table even in the used and abused genre of comedy. Trust Lars von Trier to come up with something innovative with every film of his own.
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