(2006; Danish) What is this weirdness? Other-side-of-the-moon comedy, "artsy-fartsy" improvisational theater, from Lars von Trier. Nothing to get upset about, really - unless you work for someone like this unscrupulous bastard - just relax and enjoy the funhouse.

Mr Ravn (Peter Gantzler) hires a "self-important, out-of-work actor," Kristoffer (Jens Albinus), to play the part of his company's president. Mr Ravn wants Kristoffer to negotiate the sale of the company to an Icelandic buyer named Finnur.

Accidentally Kristoffer introduces himself to some of the employees in the corridor. Though they've received e-mail communications, no one in the company has ever before seen the head of the firm. Since the cat is out of the bag, Mr Ravn must present Kristoffer to the six seniors: "Here at last, the boss of it all."

Mr Ravn leaves Kristoffer to answer questions and get to know the staff. "What's your name?" Uncertain, Kristoffer seeks clues and realizes that the boss of it all signs his correspondence as "Sven E." "Sven Eckersberg," but they can call him Kristoffer as well. Gorm comments on the mugginess of autumn and then smacks the boss of it all in the face. "They're all completely mad," Kristoffer says to Mr Ravn, who urges him: "Subdue them. Take control."

Mette, whose husband hanged himself with a computer cable when the boss of it all fired him, screams every time the copy machine starts up. Lise in human resources tells Kristoffer he's a lousy actor, pretending to be gay, and proceeds to seduce him.

Mr Ravn suggests to Kristoffer that when anyone approaches him with a request to simply answer in the affirmative. Heidi A. says she has answered all but one of his e-mails, the exception she assumed to have been a joke, not needing a response. Teasing the secret out of her by asking what the "A." stands for and agreeing that the message wasn't a jest, Heidi A. joyously announces she will soon be Heidi E.

The director interrupts to introduce a new character: Kristoffer's former wife who is also Finnur's attorney. "Life is a dogma film," says Kristoffer, admitting to his ex that he's just a stand-in. She explains the hoax to the dim-witted actor: Mr Ravn, the actual owner, has been manipulating everyone in the company, using "the boss of it all" to blame things on (such as having no perks) so that he, as just another employee, can appear noble and likeable (a cuddly teddy bear); further he's selling the company for personal profit after having started it up using loans he borrowed from the six seniors who will lose all rights (no compensation for Brooker 5) and gainful employment. This information disturbs Kristoffer's sense of fairness, and he resolves to set things to rights.

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Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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