Forbrydelsens element (1984)

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writers:

Niels Vørsel (writer) &
William Quarshie (dialogue translation) ...

Release Date:

14 May 1984 (Denmark)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.

Plot Keywords:

Method | Serial Killer | Hypnosis | Detective | Rain

Awards:

11 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Michael Elphick	...	Fisher
Esmond Knight	...	Osborne
Me Me Lai	...	Kim (as Meme Lai)
Jerold Wells	...	Kramer
Ahmed El Shenawi	...	Therapist
Astrid Henning-Jensen	...	House Keeper
János Herskó	...	Coroner (as Janos Hersko)
Stig Larsson	...	Coroner's Assistant
Harry Harper	...	Portier 1
Roman Moszkowicz	...	Portier 2
Lars von Trier	...	Schmuck of Ages (as Lars Von Trier)
Frederik Casby	...	White Policeman
Duke Addabayo	...	Black Policeman
Jon Bang Carlsen	...	Angry Policeman (as Jon Bang-Carlsen)
Leif Magnusson	...	Hotel Guest

Also Known As:

The Element of Crime (UK) (USA)
The Last Tourist in Europe (Denmark) (working title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Denmark

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (tinted) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Italy:T | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:R(A) | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 | UK:15 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Det Danske Filmstudie, Lyngby, Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Det Danske Filminstitut

Trivia:

The first film in Lars von Trier's 'Europa' trilogy which illuminates the traumas of Europe in the future. The two other parts are Epidemic (1987) and Europa (1991).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Therapist: [to Fisher] Fantasy is OK, but my job to keep you on the right track. We are after the facts. You seem to return to Cairo and me whenever you have a problem. Two months ago you left Cairo, your wife, everything for a police job in Europe. Now you are back haunted by headaches. If you want me to help you get rid of these headaches, we must go back two months in the time. Back to where it all started. All I know... Europe has become an obsession for you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Im Laboratorium des Doktor von Trier: Zurück zur Magie des Kinos (1998) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Der Letzte Tourist in Europa

"The Silence of the Lambs" meets "Delicatessen"

Lars Von Trier's feature début is a stylish, extremely bizarre and intriguing tapestry about an ex-cop (Michael Elphick) who obsessively pursues a serial killer. Playing with different film genres and supported by a fantastic production design, "The Element of Crime" was very different from what I expected, but not in a bad way. This is the first film in Lars' 'Europe trilogy', followed by "Epidemic" (1987) and "Zentropa" (1991). Influenced by Fritz Lang, Terry Gilliam and many others, the film also has a voice of its own (Von Trier's raging verve); I'd call it "The Silence of the Lambs" meets "Delicatessen", so you can have an idea of how bizarre it is. If that sounds interesting to you, you should check it; even if you're not into the likes of "Dogville" or "Breaking the Waves", you may still appreciate it. Interesting for Von Trier fans and admirers of puzzles alike. 8/10.