Epidemic (1987)

A director and screenwriter pen a script and, in the process, blur the line between fiction and reality.

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writers:

Lars von Trier (screenplay) (as Lars Von Trier), Niels Vørsel (screenplay)

Stars:

Allan De Waal, Ole Ernst, Michael Gelting

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Allan De Waal
Ole Ernst
Michael Gelting
Colin Gilder
Svend Ali Hamann	...	Self
Claes Kastholm Hansen	...	Self
Ib Hansen
Anja Hemmingsen
Kirsten Hemmingsen
Cæcilia Holbek Trier	...	(as Cæcilia Holbek)
Gert Holbek
Udo Kier	...	Self
Joergen Christian Krueff	...	(as Jørgen Christian Krüff)
Jan Kornum Larsen
Gitte Lind	...	Self

Storyline

A film director and a script writer (performed by Lars von Trier and Niels Vørsel themselves) write a screenplay, in which an epidemic spreads about the whole world. Like the protagonist they do not notice, that a real epidemic is developing around them.

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Plot Keywords:

post punk | plague | male frontal nudity | male nudity | scriptwriting | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The script von Trier and Vørsel have just finished writing at the beginning of the film is titled "The Policeman and the Whore" - an apparent reference to their previous collaboration, The Element of Crime (1984), whose lead characters are a detective and a prostitute.

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Quotes

Cabbie: What the hell. All a nigger needs are loose shoes, tight pussies, and a warm place to shit.

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Crazy Credits

The film's title appears in red letters in the upper left corner of the screen for the entire length of the film.

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Connections

Featured in The Making of 'Europa' (1991)

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Soundtracks

Tannhäuser (The Overture)
Composed by Richard Wagner

User Reviews

The man's a genius.

Of course, you gotta be a masochist to enjoy some people's genius - you know that if you bear with them they will take you to new levels of perception.

With Lars von Trier, the voyage is often hilarious. Epidemic is funny. Funny, in a Gummo kind of way: the characters are real, reality is eerie, and we laugh to break the tension; funny in a the characters say amusing things kind of way (preacher: "this bible is in goddamned Latin"); and funny in an Andy Kaufman screwing with the audience (yes, you) kind of way.

Make no mistake: you will suffer. If you are afraid, stay away from horror movies, ya pansy!

This movie also features some great aesthetic distance! It's bold!

Details

Country:

Denmark

Language:

Danish English

Release Date:

11 September 1987 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Epidemia

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$938

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elementfilm A/S, Det Danske Filminstitut

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1