Manderlay (2005): Lars von Trier's narrative of passing

Von Trier, the maverick Danish director, has over the course of his career earned a reputation for being difficult; he has a tendency to create films that are not only challenging but demand an active level of participation from his audience. The film Manderlay (2005) continues this tradition of provoking intellectual debate. Whereas numerous scholars and critics have recognised that the film can be read as a metaphorical reference to George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq, this article interprets Manderlay as an allegory for the way African Americans have been represented by the US film industry.