Europa (1991)

Just after W.W.II, an American takes a railway job in Germany, but finds his position politically sensitive with various people trying to use him.

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writers:

Lars von Trier, Niels Vørsel

Stars:

Barbara Sukowa, Jean-Marc Barr, Udo Kier

18 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Leopold Kessler
Barbara Sukowa	...	Katharina Hartmann
Udo Kier	...	Lawrence Hartmann
Ernst-Hugo Järegård	...	Uncle Kessler
Erik Mørk	...	Pater
Jørgen Reenberg	...	Max Hartmann
Henning Jensen	...	Siggy
Eddie Constantine	...	Colonel Harris
Max von Sydow	...	Narrator (voice)
Benny Poulsen	...	Steleman
Erno Müller	...	Seifert
Dietrich Kuhlbrodt	...	Inspector
Michael Phillip Simpson	...	Robins
Holger Perfort	...	Mr. Ravenstein
Anne Werner Thomsen	...	Mrs. Ravenstein

Storyline

An American of German descent arrives in post-war Germany 1945. His uncle gets him a job on the Zentropa train line as a sleeping car conductor. The American's wish is to be neutral to the ongoing purges of loyalists by the Allied forces and do what he can to help a hurting country, but he finds himself being used by both the Americans and the influential family that owns the railroad. After falling in love with the railroad magnate's daughter, he finds that he can't remain neutral and must make some difficult choices.

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Plot Keywords:

germany | 1940s | train | sleeping car | drowning | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for scenes of violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Steven Spielberg is a fan of the film. Upon seeing it, he offered Lars Von Trier the chance to work in Hollywood, to which Von Trier politely declined. Von Trier has worked solely in Denmark ever since, and has never been to the United States.

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Quotes

Uncle Kessler: Priest are necessary discomfort

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Connections

Referenced in A Conversation with Lars von Trier About the Europe Trilogy (2005)

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Soundtracks

Europa Aria
Written by Lars von Trier
Performed by Nina Hagen and Philippe Huttenlocher
Courtesy of Virgin Musique

User Reviews

Innocents abroad

Zentropa has much in common with The Third Man, another noir-like film set among the rubble of postwar Europe. Like TTM, there is much inventive camera work. There is an innocent American who gets emotionally involved with a woman he doesn't really understand, and whose naivety is all the more striking in contrast with the natives.

But I'd have to say that The Third Man has a more well-crafted storyline. Zentropa is a bit disjointed in this respect. Perhaps this is intentional: it is presented as a dream/nightmare, and making it too coherent would spoil the effect.

This movie is unrelentingly grim--"noir" in more than one sense; one never sees the sun shine. Grim, but intriguing, and frightening.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Denmark Sweden France Germany Switzerland

Language:

English German

Release Date:

27 June 1991 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Zentropa

Filming Locations:

Chojna Cathedral, Chojna, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland

Box Office

Budget:

DKK28,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$21,447, 25 May 1992

Gross USA:

$1,007,001

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,007,939

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alicéléo, Coproduction Office, Det Danske Filminstitut

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White Color (Pathécolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1