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The Element of Crime

Original title: Forbrydelsens element
  • 19841984
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
The Element of Crime (1984)
CrimeDramaThriller
A cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.A cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.A cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lars von Trier
  • Writers
    • Niels Vørsel
    • William Quarshie(dialogue translation)
    • Stephen Wakelam(dialogue translation)
  • Stars
    • Michael Elphick
    • Esmond Knight
    • Me Me Lai
  • Director
    • Lars von Trier
  • Writers
    • Niels Vørsel
    • William Quarshie(dialogue translation)
    • Stephen Wakelam(dialogue translation)
  • Stars
    • Michael Elphick
    • Esmond Knight
    • Me Me Lai
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 53User reviews
    • 60Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 12 wins & 3 nominations

    Photos68

    Michael Elphick in The Element of Crime (1984)
    Michael Elphick in The Element of Crime (1984)
    The Element of Crime (1984)
    Michael Elphick in The Element of Crime (1984)
    Me Me Lai in The Element of Crime (1984)
    Michael Elphick in The Element of Crime (1984)
    The Element of Crime (1984)
    Me Me Lai in The Element of Crime (1984)
    The Element of Crime (1984)
    Esmond Knight in The Element of Crime (1984)
    Michael Elphick and Me Me Lai in The Element of Crime (1984)
    Michael Elphick and Me Me Lai in The Element of Crime (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Elphick
    Michael Elphick
    • Fisher
    Esmond Knight
    Esmond Knight
    • Osborne
    Me Me Lai
    Me Me Lai
    • Kim
    • (as Meme Lai)
    Jerold Wells
    Jerold Wells
    • Kramer
    Ahmed El Shenawi
    • Therapist
    Astrid Henning-Jensen
    • House Keeper
    János Herskó
    János Herskó
    • Coroner
    • (as Janos Hersko)
    Stig Larsson
    Stig Larsson
    • Coroner's Assistant
    Harry Harper
    • Portier 1
    Roman Moszkowicz
    • Portier 2
    Lars von Trier
    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
    Preben Lerdorff Rye
    • Grandfather
    • (as Preben Leerdorff-Rye)
    Camilla Overbye Roos
    • Lotto Girl 1
    • (as Camilla Overbye)
    Maria Holkenfeldt-Behrendt
    • Lotto Girl 2
    • (as Maria Behrendt)
    • Director
      • Lars von Trier
    • Writers
      • Niels Vørsel
      • William Quarshie(dialogue translation)
      • Stephen Wakelam(dialogue translation)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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

      Fisher: I'm gonna fuck you back to the stone age.

    • Connections
      Edited into Eventyret om dansk film 18: Nye perspektiver - 1970-1987 (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Der Letzte Tourist in Europa
      By Mogens Dam, Henrik Blichmann

      Translated by Waltraut Andersen

      Sung by Sonja Kehler

    User reviews53

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    What to think...?
    Von Trier has created some masterpieces, but also some beautiful and very flawed films. Still, as far as his style The Element of Crime is the first of his without the Dogme shaky-cam style. Let's get this out of the way. It reminds me a lot of Lynch's Eraserhead and Aronofsky's Pi in how technically brilliant, but also how surreal and how cold they are. But unlike those, this one really tested my patience at times. It has some brilliant sound design, and some really amazing lighting and cinematography. There's quite a few shots here that will linger in the mind, but as a whole the plot is quite messy and not very comprehendable. Some could say it fits as a Lynch film in a way, but I found this to be much more of a mixed bag than many of Lynch's works. Overall, as a journey through avant-garde territory with really surreal, stylized, and just unsettling and odd moments, it's recommended, but as a whole you may feel yourself checking the clock one too many times.
    helpful•5
    1
    • Red_Identity
    • Feb 16, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 14, 1984 (Denmark)
    • Country of origin
      • Denmark
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Spuren eines Verbrechens
    • Filming locations
      • Denmark
    • Production companies
      • Det Danske Filminstitut
      • Per Holst Filmproduktion
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,746
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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