Manderlay (2005)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writer:

Lars von Trier (written by)

Release Date:

3 June 2005 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A case of mistaken identity

Plot:

A story of slavery, set in the 1930s American South.

Plot Keywords:

Slavery | Gangster | Democracy | Cotton | 1930s

Awards:

1 win & 15 nominations

Cast

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 Brinkmann	...	Bingo (as Ruben Brinkman)
Doña Croll	...	Venus (as Dona Croll)
Jeremy Davies	...	Niels
Llewella Gideon	...	Victoria
Mona Hammond	...	Old Wilma
Ginny Holder	...	Elisabeth
John Hurt	...	Narrator (voice)
Emmanuel Idowu	...	Jim
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Dr. Hector
Teddy Kempner	...	Joseph
Udo Kier	...	Mr. Kirspe
Rik Launspach	...	Stanley Mays
Suzette Llewellyn	...	Flora
Charles Maquignon	...	Bruno
Joseph Mydell	...	Mark
Javone Prince	...	Jack
Clive Rowe	...	Sammy
Chloë Sevigny	...	Philomena
Nina Sosanya	...	Rose
Wendy Juel	...	Claire
Seth Mpundu	...	Ed
Derrick Odhiambo-Widell	...	Willie
Alemayehu Wakijra	...	Milton
Fredric Gildea	...	Gangster (as Fredrik Gildea)
Andrew Hardiman	...	Truck Driver
Aki Hirvonen	...	Gangster
Mikael Johansson	...	Gangster
Hans Karlsson	...	Gangster
Ian Matthews	...	Mr. Miller
Maudo Sey	...	Burt
Erich Silva	...	Viggo
Ross Taylor	...	Gangster
Eric Voge	...	Gangster
Nick Wolf	...	Gangster

Directed by
Lars von Trier		(as Lars Von Trier)

Writing credits
Lars von Trier		(written by) (as Lars Von Trier)

Produced by
Michael André	....	co-producer: WDR
Humbert Balsan	....	co-producer
Gillian Berrie	....	co-producer
Lene Børglum	....	executive producer
Bettina Brokemper	....	co-producer
Gunnar Carlsson	....	associate producer
Tomas Eskilsson	....	associate producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen	....	executive producer
Signe Jensen	....	line producer
Lars Jönsson	....	co-producer
Liisa Penttilä	....	associate producer
Tine Grew Pfeiffer	....	associate producer: development
Andreas Schreitmüller	....	co-producer: arte
Els Vandevorst	....	co-producer
Louise Vesth	....	line producer: development
Vibeke Windeløv	....	producer

Original Music by
Joachim Holbek

Cinematography by
Anthony Dod Mantle

Film Editing by
Molly Marlene Stensgård		(as Molly Malene Stensgaard)

Casting by
Job Gosschalk
Nicolas Lublin
Saida van der Reijd

Art Direction by
Peter Grant

Set Decoration by
Simone Grau

Costume Design by
Manon Rasmussen

Makeup Department
Pascale Bouquière	....	makeup artist (as Pascale Bouquiere)
Evelyne Byot	....	key hair stylist
Evelyne Byot	....	key makeup artist
Anja Dahl	....	makeup consultant
Morten Jacobsen	....	special makeup effects: hanged man dummy
Alexis Kinebanyan	....	special makeup effects assistant (as Alexis Kinebankan)
Dennis Knudsen	....	makeup artist
Benoît Lestang	....	special makeup effects artist
Sara Meerman	....	makeup artist
Nora Nona	....	makeup artist
Geoffroy Selley	....	special makeup effects assistant
Mari Vaalasranta	....	makeup artist
Sue Wyburgh	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Daniel Ahlqvist	....	production manager: SE
Lene Nielsen	....	production manager: DK
Pia Nielsen	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Elliott	....	first assistant director (as Mike Elliott)
Thomas Schindel	....	third assistant director
Dariusz Steiness	....	assistant director
Anthony Wilcox	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Anders Folke Andersen	....	carpenter
Mikael Back	....	carpenter
Christine Bechameil	....	painter
Jean Roch Bechameil	....	plasterer
Katja Bjergby	....	blacksmith assistant
Jehan De Breda	....	plasterer
Francoise Delaire	....	assistant art director
Martina Eriksdotter	....	props assistant
Tony Grob	....	historical design and research
Rickard Grönvall	....	painter (as Rikard Grönvall)
Lars Hansen	....	blacksmith
Yvan Hart	....	plasterer
Søren Jochumsen	....	construction coordinator
Palle Larsen	....	construction coordinator
Jesper Lorents	....	property master
Charlotte Öberg	....	art department runner
Kaare Pihl	....	floor: Pihl Coating A/S
Ursula Riismøller Nielsen	....	painter
Torben Skalleræk	....	carpenter (as Torben Skallebæk)
Per Uffelmann	....	blacksmith
Peter Vålming	....	set carpenter
Frank Zandhoff	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Kristian Eidnes Andersen	....	sound designer
Pétur Einarsson	....	foley editor
Anne Jensen	....	dialogue editor
Per Dybdal Jensen	....	sound assistant (as Per Dybdal)
Mark Kenna	....	consultant: Dolby film sound
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist
Marten Negenman	....	sound designer
Jan Nieuwenhuijs	....	sound assistant
Thomas Puget	....	foley artist
Jamie Roden	....	adr mixer
Ad Stoop	....	sound recordist
Per Streit	....	sound designer

Visual Effects by
Henric Andersson	....	visual effects: multicam technician
Ian Bach	....	compositor
Søren Buus	....	3D artist
Niels Valentin Dal	....	matte painter
Sune Elskær	....	storyboard artist
Marie Gjessing	....	assistant compositor
Ocki Hansson	....	visual effects: techno crane
Peter Hartwig	....	3D artist
Peter Hjorth	....	visual effects supervisor
Anders Jønsson	....	modelbuilder
Morten Juel Jørgensen	....	compositor (as Morten Juel)
Rasmus Lange	....	compositor
Oskar Larsson	....	visual effects: multicam technician (as Oscar Larsson)
Allan O. Lückow	....	motion control (as Allan O Lückow)
Hans Peter Ludvigsen	....	pyrotechnics
Karen Maarbjerg	....	visual effects producer
Mark Moriarty	....	visual effects: hothead operator
Peter Mygdal	....	technical support (as Peter 'Myg' Mygdal)
Lars 'Lalo' Nielsen	....	assistant compositor
Tine Nikali	....	3D artist
Mikkel Rønne	....	compositor
Søren Tomas	....	visual effects producer: pre-production

Stunts
Clive Curtis	....	stunt double: Isaach De Bankolé

Camera and Electrical Department
Anette Arnholm	....	coordinator: camera equipment (as Annette Arnholm)
Christian Bonde	....	lighting programmer
Jakob Bonfils	....	technician: Easyrig modifier
Carsten Bramsen	....	assistant: AV
Anthony Dod Mantle	....	camera operator
Asa Frankenberg	....	lighting designer (as Åsa Frankenberg)
Mohamed Khaznadji	....	grip (as Khaznadji Colin)
Jens Lind	....	gaffer
Jens Lind	....	lighting department project manager
Thomas Neivelt	....	gaffer
Anton Öhrstrand	....	lighting trainee (as Anton Finn Öhrstrand)
Erik Persson	....	clapper loader
Ulrik Gad Poulsen	....	assistant lighting designer (as Ulrik Gad)
Martin Svane	....	electrician
Pim Tjujerman	....	focus puller
Lars von Trier	....	camera operator (as Lars Von Trier)
Astrid Wirth	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Karolina Karlsson	....	casting: stand-ins (as Lina Karlsson)
Avy Kaufman	....	casting: USA
Joyce Nettles	....	casting: UK
Kristoffer Nyholm	....	casting advisor
Therese Rydnemalm	....	casting assistant: children
Jette Termann	....	casting: children
Maggie Widstrand	....	casting: children
Joen Windahl	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Åsa Broms	....	costume assistant
Bente Christensen	....	seamstress
Grith Deleuran	....	costumes
Marie Flyckt	....	costume assistant
Malou Listoft	....	seamstress
Magdalena Nilsson	....	costume assistant
Sari Suominen	....	first costume assistant

Editorial Department
Anne Katrine Andersen	....	post-production coordinator
Gene Barbe	....	film lab coordinator: LTC
Carsten Bramsen	....	assistant editor
Thomas Caspersen	....	digital preparation
Stefan Ciupek	....	color grader
Lars Dela	....	technical backup
Christian Dutac	....	grader
Linse Jensen	....	post-production booking coordinator
Jonas Kiselberg	....	logger
Bodil Kjærhauge	....	assistant editor
Thomas Krag	....	editor: end credits
Rasmus Madsen	....	editor trainee (as Rasmus Stensgaard)
Emmanuelle Pencalet	....	first assistant editor
Cecilie Rui	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
The English Concert	....	performer: music score (as The English Concert Orchestra)
Joachim Holbek	....	music arranger
Bo Holten	....	music consultant: Baroque music
Mike Ross-Trevor	....	music mix engineer
Mike Ross-Trevor	....	music recordist
Allan Wilson	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Irina Ahlstrand	....	driver
Rashid Clytus	....	driver
Louise Drake	....	picture car coordinator
Sara Eriksson	....	driver
Fredrik Fornänger	....	driver
Björn Franzén	....	driver (as Björn Franzen)
Carl Hallbladh	....	driver (as Carl Hallblad)
Alexander Hylander	....	driver
Anders Kjäll	....	driver
Torbjörn Land	....	driver
Michael Lundin	....	driver (as Mike Lundin)
Gustav Mattsson	....	driver
Sara Osbeck	....	driver
Josefine Tengblad	....	transportation coordinator
Markandrew Terry	....	driver
Nomi Szpiro	....	transportation assistant (uncredited)

Other crew
Samanou Acheche	....	cast and travel assistant
Henrik Agermann	....	banking (as Henrik Angermann)
Daniel Ahlqvist	....	production coordinator
Irina Ahlstrand	....	runner
Henrik Køier Andersen	....	animal caretaker
Kashka Banjoko	....	personal assistant: Danny Glover
Anna Bergsten	....	children caretaker
Peter Bianchi	....	computer technician
Caroline Blanco	....	assistant: Vibeke Windeløv
Susan H. Bodine	....	production lawyer: Epstein, Levinsohn, et al (as Sue Bodine)
Lene Børglum	....	financing
Andrea F. Cannistraci	....	production lawyer: Epstein, Levinsohn, et al
Stefan Ciupek	....	chief technician
Anders Claesson	....	production assistant
Rashid Clytus	....	runner
Carrie Comerford	....	production executive: UK
Linda Daae	....	continuity
Maria Dahlin	....	production accountant
Björn Dokken	....	studio assistant
Anna Duffield	....	assistant: Gillian Berrie
Michael Ehrenborg	....	accountant: SE
Füsun Eriksen	....	public relations: international
Sara Eriksson	....	runner
Peter Føhns	....	computer technician
Fredrik Fornänger	....	runner
Björn Franzén	....	runner (as Björn Franzen)
Esben Garn	....	computer technician
Buller Glem	....	chef: studio
Line Greisen	....	public relations: Denmark
Carl Hallbladh	....	runner (as Carl Hallblad)
Magnus Handberg	....	catering assistant
Charlotta Hansen	....	continuity assistant
Jeanett Hansen	....	banking
Jens Georg Hansen	....	insurance broker (as Jens-Georg Hansen)
Alexander Hylander	....	runner
Magdalena Johansson	....	assistant continuity
Anders Kildsgaard	....	production lawyer: Bech-Bruun Dragsted
Anders Kjærhauge	....	production lawyer: Zentropa administration
Anders Kjäll	....	runner
Ann Køj	....	accountant: DK
Matthias Krause	....	assistant: Bettina Brokemper
Torbjörn Land	....	runner
Dany Lebigot	....	assistant: Humbert Balsan
Anders Lexne	....	weapons
Milo Lilja	....	catering assistant
Hans Lönnerheden	....	completion bond
Michael Lundin	....	runner (as Mike Lundin)
Mikkel Maltha	....	production lawyer: Zentropa administration
Lasse Martinussen	....	logger (as Lasse Martinusen)
Gustav Mattsson	....	runner
Per Neumann	....	completion bond
Per Neumann	....	production lawyer: Bech-Bruun Dragsted
Pia Severin Nielsen	....	cast and travel coordinator
Magnus Olsson	....	studio assistant
Sara Osbeck	....	runner
Abigail Payne	....	production lawyer: Harbottle & Lewis
Nadia Saddok	....	assistant: Humbert Balsan
Katrine Sahlstrøm	....	assistant to producer
Katrine Sahlstrøm	....	production secretary
Howard Samuelsohn	....	dialogue coach
Katrina Schelin	....	public relations: Denmark
Janus Schumacher	....	assistant: Vibeke Windeløv
Reinette van de Stadt	....	production assistant (as Reinette Van De Stadt)
Dariusz Steiness	....	background action
Lennart Svensson	....	teacher
Nomi Szpiro	....	production assistant (as Nomi Spiro)
Markandrew Terry	....	runner
Isabel Tulloch	....	accountant: UK
Ann Vognsen	....	accountant: DK
Sarah Wells	....	accountant: UK
Claudia Wolfs	....	accountant: Germany (as Claudia Coreen Wolfs)
Anders Claesson	....	assistant to production coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Humbert Balsan	....	in memory of: 21.08.1954 - 10.02.2005
Karen Bentzon	....	the production wishes to thank
Blair Brown	....	the production wishes to thank
David Burch	....	acknowledgment: end credit photos photographed by, Shooting Back
Ian Burns	....	the production wishes to thank
Anders Ericsson	....	the production wishes to thank
Lana Garland	....	the production wishes to thank
Fred Gildersleeve	....	acknowledgment: end credit photos photographed by, NAACP (as Gildersleeve)
Daniel Hall	....	acknowledgment: end credit photos photographed by, Shooting Back
Lena Hansson	....	acknowledgment: supported by, Danish Film Institute (as Lena Hansson-Varhegyi)
Ellen Hillingsø	....	the production wishes to thank
Jacob Holdt	....	acknowledgment: end credit photos by, American Pictures
Jacob Holdt	....	thanks: for help and inspiration
Katarina Krave	....	the production wishes to thank
Per Nielsen	....	acknowledgment: supported by, Swedish Film Institute
Lynn Nottage	....	the production wishes to thank
Grey Rajaee	....	acknowledgment: end credit photos photographed by, Shooting Back
Sam Robards	....	the production wishes to thank
Petri Rossi	....	acknowledgment: supported by, Finnish Film Foundation
Michael Schmid-Ospach	....	acknowledgment: supported by, Filmstiftung NRW
Paul Schwartzman	....	the production wishes to thank (as 'Consigliere' Paul Schwartzman)
Stellan Skarsgård	....	the production wishes to thank
Ulrich Thomsen	....	the production wishes to thank
Bente Trier	....	the production wishes to thank
Marion S. Trikosko	....	acknowledgment: end credit photos photographed by, NAACP
John Vachon	....	acknowledgment: end credit photos photographed by, NAACP

Production Companies

• Zentropa Entertainments (presented by) (as Zentropa Entertainments13 ApS)
• Isabella Films B.V. (in co-production with)
• Manderlay (in co-production with)
• Sigma Films (in co-production with) (as SigmaIII Films Ltd.)
• Memfis Film (in co-production with) (as Memfis Film International AB)
• Ognon Pictures (in co-production with)
• Pain Unlimited GmbH Filmproduktion (in co-production with) (as Pain Unlimited Filmproduktion GmbH)
• Edith Film Oy (in association with)
• Invicta Capital (in association with)
• Film i Väst (also in co-production with) (as Film I Väst)
• Danmarks Radio (DR) (also in co-production with) (as DR - Danish Broadcasting Corp.)
• arte France Cinéma (also in co-production with)
• Sveriges Television (SVT) (also in co-production with) (as Sveriges Television AB - SVT)
• Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) (also in co-production with) (as WDR)
• Arte (also in co-production with)
• NPS Television (also in co-production with) (as NPS Television, the Netherlands)
• YLE Co-Productions (also in co-production with)
• Canal+ (with the participation of)
• Canal Television AB (with the participation of) (as Canal+ AB Television)
• Degeto Film (with the participation of) (as Degeto)
• Alan Young Pictures (with the participation of)

Distributors

• Bir Film (2005) (Turkey) (all media)
• 791 Cine (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• ArtCam (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Distributionsselskabet (2005) (Denmark) (theatrical) (in collaboration with)
• IFC Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Films du Losange (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film Biografdistribution (2005) (Denmark) (theatrical) (in collaboration with)
• Nordisk Film Biografdistribution (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 01 Distribuzione (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• California Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (all media)
• Cinéart (2005) (Belgium) (all media) (Benelux)
• Cinéart (2005) (Luxembourg) (all media) (Benelux)
• Cinéart (2005) (Netherlands) (all media) (Benelux)
• Four Films (2007) (Chile) (DVD)
• Gateno Films (2006) (Peru) (all media)
• Genius Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• IFC Films (2005) (USA) (all media)
• TVA Films (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• 3D Connection (match moving)
• Itavis Storage Solutions (technical support) (as Itavis)
• Gearless ApS (visual effects facility)

Other Companies

• Allen-Littlefield Collection, The  courtesy of ("Without Sanctuary" Burnt corpses of William Stanley, August 1915, Temple, Texas & The lynching of Lee Hall, February 7, 1903, Wrightsville, Georgia)
• Aqua Service Sverige  the production wishes to thank
• Bech-Bruun Dragsted  production lawyers
• CoBo Fonds  supported by (as CoBo Fund)
• Compeed  the production wishes to thank
• Det Danske Filminstitut  supported by
• Dunderdon  the production wishes to thank (as Dunderdon / Worn By Workers)
• EF Rental  equipment
• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  production lawyers
• Eurimages  supported by
• European Regional Development Fund  supported by (as The 121 Preparatory Action of the European Community European Regional Development Fund)
• Film Finances Scandinavia  completion bond (as Film Finances Inc.)
• Filmstiftung NRW  supported by
• Finnish Film Foundation  supported by
• Forstædernes Bank  banking
• Gearless ApS  online
• George Grantham Bain Collection  end credit photos
• Harbottle & Lewis  production lawyers
• Heimatfilm  production services: Germany (as Heimat Film GmbH + Co KG)
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity
• Kahls Kaffe  the production wishes to thank
• Kollekt ApS  collection agent
• Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division  end credit photos
• Mainstream ApS  sound studio
• Malde & Co.  auditor
• Marsh A/S  insurance
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, The  end credit photos (as NAACP)
• National Photo Company Collection  end credit photos
• Nederlands Fonds voor de Film  supported by (as Dutch Film Fund)
• Nordisk Film  the production wishes to thank (as Nordisk Film/Sony Ps2)
• Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond  supported by (as Nordic Film & TV Fund)
• North Face, The  the production wishes to thank
• Prime Vision  the production wishes to thank
• Programme MEDIA de la Communauté Européenne  developed with the support of
• Reebok  the production wishes to thank
• Ronnums Herrgård  the production wishes to thank
• Scanlab  additional digital transfers
• Scanpix  end credit photos (as Scanpix/Corbis)
• Seiersen Revision  audit: DK
• Selecta  the production wishes to thank
• Shooting Back  end credit photos
• Swedish Film Institute  supported by
• Trust Film Sales 2 ApS  world sales
• United Press International (UPI)  end credit photos (as United Press International Telephoto)
• Whitfield Street Studios  music score recorded at (as Whitfield Street Studios, London)
• Wolford  the production wishes to thank (as Woolford)

Also Known As:

Manderlay (France) (Germany)
The Film 'Manderlay' as Told in Eight Straight Chapters (USA) (long title)

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

Denmark | Sweden | Netherlands | France | Germany | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Philippines:R-18 | Finland:K-15 | Sweden:11 | Germany:12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:16 | Czech Republic:15 | UK:15 | Italy:VM14 | Japan:R-18 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:R21 | Hungary:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Netherlands:12 | Australia:MA | South Korea:18 | Portugal:M/16 | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Denmark

Company:

Zentropa Entertainments

Trivia:

British actors were cast as nine out of the twelve slaves portrayed in the film because African-American actors steered away from the film because of its content.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator: It was in the year of 1933, when Grace and her father were heading southward with their army of gangsters.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Cannes Experience: Manderlay 2005 (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Young Americans

one of the bravest movies of all time

Indeed one of this years best films. I have just returned from the cinema, and i'm still thinking about Manderlay. The story continues where Dogville ended. Grace and her father makes a short brake their travel, and discovers that a slave is getting punished near by in a plantation named Manderlay. Grace's father continues his travel and Grace stays in Manderlay to set the slaves free, as they should have been 70 years ago, when the slavery was made illegal. And of course this is not easy.

Manderlay isn't as shocking and far out as Dogville was. Not that it was a bad thing of course. But this is just a very much stronger film, because you get personally involved in the characters in a way that i don't think you did in Dogville. The only thing missing is a little bit of action. Nothing really happens. People just walk around and talk. The biggest scenes in the film has no direct influence on the following physical action and development in the story. well of course they does, but the development lies in the head of the characters. These developments are more interesting to analyze after you have seen the movie that during the movie. But instead of a lot of physical action we are given as i remember three truly terrifying and terrific scenes that are as strong as scenes in Dancer in the Dark and Breaking the Waves, and they does in my opinion make up for the lack of action.

Manderlay is also a lot stronger i it's message than Dogville was. Yes, the message is pointed against USA, but as in Dogville, it is so much more than just a criticism of that country... it's a criticism of the human kind. The reason for Lars von Trier to place the story in USA is that he likes to tease the big ones. He said that in an interview on TV not so long ago. He also said that the screenplay was written before the incidents in Iraq, so it's a coincidence that there are so many parallels between the events in Manderlay and in Iraq.

Lars von Trier is in my opinion one of the biggest directors of our time. It takes a courage, that i see in no other directors than him, to make a film like this. Manderlay is one of the bravest movies i have seen.