The Boss of It All

REVIEW
Probably best known for fatalistic tales of martyrdom like Dancer in the Dark and Breaking the Waves, von Trier this time delivers a simple and hilarious morality parable. Shot on a shoestring budget, The Boss of It All tells the story of Kristoffer, a down-on-his-luck actor who lands a bizarre job at an IT firm. Ravn, the second-in- charge, has hired Kristoffer to pose as the company head, a mysterious man named Svend E., who none of the employees have ever met. Quickly it becomes clear to Kristoffer that Ravn’s goal is to sell off the company to a racist Icelander while leaving the fallout in his own hands. But things get complicated when false relationships develop between Kristoffer, or “Svend E.,” and his other employees, whose farcical reactions to the appearance of the long-absent boss include everything from screaming matches to sexual favors. Though the goofy, off-the-cuff approach may seem to be a departure for von Trier, this uproarious romp of moral ambiguity will have you rolling in the aisles. (Danish, Icelandic, English and Russian with English subtitles)