WISE Score
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A dry Danish comedy about a business owner who hires an actor to play his fake boss so he can avoid being the bad guy.
74%
74%View →Lars von Trier is usually known for movies that leave you needing a therapist, but this is a surprisingly light, weird corporate comedy. It’s essentially a 'fake boss' sitcom stretched into a feature film.
It’s not going to be a family favorite for everyone—the subtitles and the deadpan Danish delivery make it a niche pick. But for a teen who likes dry wit or is interested in how movies are made, it’s a fascinating, low-stakes entry into European cinema.
Best for ages 12 and up. The corporate politics and subtitled dialogue require a level of patience and maturity that younger kids won't have, but there's nothing 'dangerous' here for a sharp 10-year-old.
It's a corporate satire, so the 'values' are mostly about people being awkward, deceptive, and cowardly. It's not mean-spirited, but it's definitely cynical about workplace culture.
Lars von Trier used a system called 'Automavision' where a computer chose the camera angles, leading to a weird, off-kilter look. The central premise of a fake CEO is a clever, high-concept hook.
Very low on traditional 'red flags.' No violence or major scares. There are some adult references and workplace sexual tension, but it's handled through dialogue and awkward comedy rather than graphic content.
Excellent for discussing accountability and the ethics of business. It forces you to look at how people distance themselves from the consequences of their choices.
Most people know Lars von Trier for his 'Dogme 95' rules or his incredibly dark later works. The Boss of It All is him taking those experimental impulses and applying them to a genre he has no business being in: the workplace comedy.
The technical hook here is Automavision. Von Trier literally let a computer pick the camera shots based on a set of parameters, which results in heads being cut off by the frame and weirdly timed zooms. It sounds annoying, but it actually adds to the 'corporate sterile' vibe of the IT firm where the movie takes place.
The heart of the movie is Ravn, the owner of the firm who is too much of a 'nice guy' to actually fire people or deliver bad news. So, he invents an imaginary boss who lives in America and communicates only through email. When it comes time to sell the company, he has to hire Kristoffer, a pretentious, out-of-work actor, to show up and sign the papers.
It’s a masterclass in avoiding responsibility. The movie nails that specific kind of corporate cowardice where everyone wants to be liked, so they blame 'the system' or 'the man upstairs' for every crappy thing that happens.
If your kid is into The Office or Parks and Rec, they might appreciate the bones of this story. However, it's much slower and more cynical. It’s the kind of movie you watch with a teen who thinks they want to go into business or acting—it'll give them plenty to talk about regarding how people perform their identities in professional spaces.
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