In 1995 three directors from Denmark announced their intentions of starting a new film movement. Dogma 95 was intended to be a radical shift from how movies were being made. They formed an alliance with vows and assigned themselves as judges. Here are some examples of their rules: 1. Filming must be done on location with a handheld camera. 2. No props are to be brought in. 3. All sound, including music, must be recorded along with the image. 4. No special lighting is permitted. And the list goes on. The ideals were to return to a pure and non-technical method of filmmaking, in order to focus on the performances and the story. They were inspirational to the many filmmakers who followed, and are honored here for their personal efforts toward the cause.

The Celebration

The Celebration (Dogme #1, 1998) is directed by Thomas Vinterberg. Of all the films judged to wear the Dogma 95 seal, The Celebration is easily my favorite. It takes place during a father’s birthday party, where his grown children, other family members, and his friends have travelled to celebrate with him at his country inn estate. The writing and character work is truly exceptional. The dynamics of their dysfunction, and each member’s place in the family unfold in a perfectly paced dramatic sequence. The bar was set very high with Dogma’s first achievement.

The Idiots

The Idiots (Dogme #2, 1998) is directed by Lars von Trier. An uncut version of this film is extremely hard to find, and ultimately worth the quest for the hardcore film buff. Others might need not apply. A group of adults gather to find their ’inner idiot’ by ’spazzing’ in public. They take their acts of playing mentally deficients earnestly in order to loosen their inhibitions, while making the public very aware of the disabled.

Many critics charged that the film belittled people with disabilities. It was reported, however, that The Idiots often had disability groups on it’s side, because they felt that it effectively opened up discussions about social prejudices against the disabled.

Mifune

Mifune (Dogme #3, 1999) is directed by S’ren Kragh-Jacobsen. Not without some edge, Mifune is the most sentimental in this group. A man returns to the family farm after his father dies in order to take care of his mentally challenged brother and their newly inherited estate. He solicits help through a want ad, and a woman desperately in need of getting away, answers it. Unable to strictly adhere to the Dogma 95 rules, Kragh-Jacobsen (just like Vinterberg) wrote a confession admitting where he had diverged.

Until next time, I hope you have a great viewing experience.  Comments are welcomed at cinespire@gmail.com.