Short introduction to the Dogme 95 movement

Two years ago, my Philosophy teacher handed in a list of good movies and must-see's. Being attracted to his sparkling intelligence and, therefore, arrogance, I started watching all those movies. Almost anyway. On that list was also Lars von Trier's Dogville. That movie was a total enlighting cinematic experience for me. One of the most unusual movies I've ever seen. Why is that? Because it belongs to the Dogme 95 movement. I will list some of its principles to give you an insight and to show you how unsual it is. 

To this avant-garde movement belong Lars von Trier (Dogville, The Idiots), Thomas Vinterberg (The Day that Never Comes, The Celebration) and Susanne Bier (After the Wedding). This Dogme wanted to rethink and purify the language of cinema and filmmaking. But once an unconvention is permanent, it becomes a convention, which is exactly what the promotors of this movement wanted to avoid. So the Dogme had to fade away.

Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg composed some rules to which every Dogme film must conform. They called this set of rules 'VOW OF CHASTITY', here's an excerpt:

'I swear to the following set of rules drawn up and confirmed by Dogme 95:

1. Shooting must be done on location. Props and sets must not be brought in.
2. The sound must never be produced apart from the image or vice-versa.
3. The camera must be handheld. Any movement or mobility attainable in the hand is permitted.
4. The film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable.
5. Optical work and filters are forbidden.
6. The film must not contain superficial action.
7. Temporal and geographical alienation are forbidden.
8. Genre movies are not acceptable.
9. The film format must be Academy 35mm.
10. The director must not be credited.'

Special thanks to Matthias who helped me writing this blog post!