Can a random camera technique make a comedy about corporate deception feel more authentic?
In short: Lars von Trier’s 2006 comedy The Boss of It All uses a bizarre filming method called automavision, where a computer randomly tilts and zooms the camera. This experimental style frames a story about a man hired to play a fake CEO, revealing the absurdity of corporate life and hidden agendas.
The film centers on Ravn, an IT company owner who has spent a decade hiding behind a fictional boss living in America. By claiming this phantom executive made all the difficult decisions, Ravn avoided accountability for his staff's problems. When he needs to sell his company to an Icelandic firm, he hires Kristoffer, an out-of-work actor, to pose as the elusive leader. The ruse quickly spirals into chaos as Kristoffer, ignorant of the company's internal history and his own past email correspondence, accidentally navigates office politics—even inadvertently proposing marriage to an employee.
The narrative deepens when it is revealed that the company’s six senior staff members contributed $25,000 each to the startup, believing they held equity. Ravn, however, intends to sell the business, fire the original team, and pocket the entire profit. Kristoffer’s presence forces a confrontation with these ethical failures. The film explores the tension between the performance of leadership and the reality of greed, culminating in a high-stakes negotiation where the lines between the actor’s persona and the real boss blur entirely.
Von Trier famously introduces the film by appearing in a reflection, warning the audience not to take the proceedings seriously. Despite this playful framing, the film received generally positive critical reception, holding a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It remains a sharp, witty examination of office dynamics, later attracting the attention of Hollywood, with plans for a remake announced by Mitch Hurwitz in 2011. The film’s legacy is defined by its unique blend of technical experimentation and its cynical, yet humorous, take on the corporate world.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Boss of It All
- Also: Wikidata — The Boss of It All · CC0
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