Dogme Uncut: Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, and the Gang That Took on Hollywood [Paperback]

Jack Stevenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

Written with humor and insight, this mixture of history, analysis, and reportage sheds fascinating insider light on the eight-year-old Dogme film movement, examining the subject from multiple perspectives. Covered in detail is Dogme's genesis, when, in 1995, Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier, acclaimed director of Breaking the Waves and Dancer in the Dark, and three fellow Danish directors swore to reject the norm of slick, emotionally manipulative, high-concept, and bombastic movie productions. Explained is the Dogme95 philosophy, which entails a return to basic filmmaking through the use of natural lighting and handheld cameras, and the refusal to use special effects, soundtracks, and movie sets. The films and filmmakers of the Dogme movement are discussed, including Thomas Vinterberg (The Celebration), Harmony Korine (Julien Donkey-Boy), Lone Scherfig (Italian for Beginners), and Susanne Bier (Open Hearts). Dogme's debt to previous film waves is explored, as is the impact Dogme has had on current trends in cinema and on today's young filmmakers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dogme films follow a strict set of rules: they employ natural lighting and hand-held cameras; they don't use special effects, soundtracks or movie sets. Launched by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier in 1995, the movement flew in the face of Hollywood slickness and shook up the filmmaking world. Film journalist and historian Stevenson, who's lived in Denmark for the past 10 years, explores the genre, its films and its filmmakers, covering relatively big Dogme films, such as Italian for Beginners and The Celebration, as well as lesser-known ones, like Security, Colorado. Stevenson addresses the debates surrounding Dogme ("there is a scuffle taking place amongst cineastes, a brawl between partisans," he writes), focusing on the Danish perspective. Yet he also covers the involvement of American filmmakers, like Harmony Korine, since many of them used Dogme "to get people interested in working on their low-budget and in some cases very unorthodox film projects." Stevenson presents an uncluttered and jargon-free assessment of an important movement in independent film, making this an excellent choice for foreign film buffs and aficionados.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A definitive guide to Dogme 95 . . . a delight . . . Film geeks rejoice! This book is for you!" -- Hybrid Magazine

"A revealing new book" -- London Times

"An in-depth history of the Dogme 95 film movement, while providing coverage of most of its films and filmmakers involved." -- Film Threat

"An informative book with a direct style . . . a handheld treasure of the here and now." -- Movie Magazine International

"Important to film students and fans of world cinema, this is recommended for larger film collections." -- Library Journal

"Provides terrific contextual background . . . for understanding the emergence of Dogme . . . accomplishes a worthwhile task in cataloguing almost every Dogme release." -- Film Comment

"[P]rovides a thorough overview, and is written in an accessible style by a writer who clearly understands the material." -- Films in Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Santa Monica Press; First Edition edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891661353
• ISBN-13: 978-1891661358
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,240,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great overview of Dogme 95 movement, September 28, 2003

By 

Mike Lynch (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dogme Uncut: Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, and the Gang That Took on Hollywood (Paperback)

This book is a great, in-depth look at the Dogme 95 movement. It's the first book I've seen that attempts to cover most of the Dogme films, as well as precursors to the Dogme movement (Godard, Warhol, etc). Jack Stevenson does a great job keeping it interesting, and keeping his perspective on the whole thing too. It's fun to read about the more well-publicized Dogme films like The Celebration and The King is Alive, as well as lesser known but worthy efforts such as Resin and The Sparkle Room. This book makes me want to track down a bunch of films. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Dogme (or Lars von Trier, or indie film in general).