Lars von Trier's 'Dogville' adapted to the Catalan stage

Some see it as pretentious, others as a masterpiece, but 'Dogville', Lars von Trier's 2003 crime revenge tragedy film starring Nicole Kidman, tends to provoke strong reactions.

The movie that Von Trier has said was to show that "evil can arise anywhere" has now been adapted as a play in Catalan, at Montjuïc's Teatre Lliure, from May 9 to June 9.

According to the play's director Sílvia Munt, the adaptation of 'Dogville' is not only a reflection on evil, but also the exploitation of women, and the power of the group over the individual.

"'Dogville' explores the fine line between good and evil, and how we attack the arrival of a stranger in any community," said Munt.

Adapted by Munt and Pau Miró

'Dogville: Un poble qualsevol' stars Bruna Cusí in the lead role with David Verdaguer, and was adapted for the Catalan stage by Munt along with playwright, Pau Miró.

Miró calls the film a "postmodern parable" that draws parallels between the main character's suffering and that of Jesus, while the adaptation focuses more "on our hypocrisy."

The playwright also said that Munt wanted to highlight the role of women by presenting a character that is "fragile but at the same time strong, and not simply a thing of beauty."

Cusi says she plays a character who "looks in this new town for a true family to help her," and adds that it is "a more tragic character than the one in the film," played by Kidman.