The Beautiful fugitive, Grace (Kidman), arrives in the isolated township of Dogville pleading that she is on the run from a team of gangsters and desperately needs help. The kindly Tom (Bettany), a self-appointed town spokesman encourages the little community to hide her and in return, Grace agrees to work for them. Initial suspicion turns to trust as the townsfolk realise that they need her. Grace and Tom form a relationship. However, when a search for Grace is announced, the people of Dogville demand a better deal in exchange for the risk of harbouring her and her workload becomes harder, the women take against her and the men start abusing her. Even Tom distances himself from her plight. But Grace has a secret and it is a dangerous one, and soon the town of Dogville will regret that it abused Grace so badly.