Danish director Lars von Trier’s best films explore the human psyche on the edge of reason. Like his characters, von Trier can be a prickly, unlikable cynic. It’s surprising, then, to watch his office-bound comedy, The Boss of It All — which happens to be the filmmaker’s most humane movie. An IT-company owner hires an unemployed actor to play the phantom boss nobody’s ever seen. Soon, the self-important thespian (who preps for his role by smudging his face with soot) realizes he’s there to enforce the real chief’s dirty work — like selling the operation and firing the entire staff. Von Trier has the most fun he’s ever had with a film.
Fri., Aug. 10, 7 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 11, 9 p.m.

This article appears in Aug 8-14, 2007.