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IMDbPro

Europa

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
21K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,389
2,874
Europa (1991)
Trailer 2 for Europa
Play trailer1:19
2 Videos
40 Photos
DramaThriller
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
21K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
10,389
2,874
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Lars von Trier
    • Writers
      • Lars von Trier
      • Niels Vørsel
    • Stars
      • Barbara Sukowa
      • Jean-Marc Barr
      • Udo Kier
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Lars von Trier
    • Writers
      • Lars von Trier
      • Niels Vørsel
    • Stars
      • Barbara Sukowa
      • Jean-Marc Barr
      • Udo Kier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 65User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
    • Awards
      • 18 wins & 9 nominations

    Videos2

    Europa
    Trailer 1:19
    Europa
    Europa
    Trailer 1:18
    Europa

    Photos40

    Jean-Marc Barr in Europa (1991)
    Jean-Marc Barr in Europa (1991)
    Jean-Marc Barr in Europa (1991)
    Europa (1991)
    1 sheet movie poster
    Europa (1991)
    Europa (1991)
    Europa (1991)
    Europa (1991)
    Europa (1991)
    Jean-Marc Barr and Barbara Sukowa in Europa (1991)
    Jean-Marc Barr and Barbara Sukowa in Europa (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Barbara Sukowa
    Barbara Sukowa
    • Katharina Hartmann
    Jean-Marc Barr
    Jean-Marc Barr
    • Leopold Kessler
    Udo Kier
    Udo Kier
    • Lawrence Hartmann
    Ernst-Hugo Järegård
    Ernst-Hugo Järegård
    • Uncle Kessler
    Erik Mørk
    • Pater
    Jørgen Reenberg
    • Max Hartmann
    Henning Jensen
    Henning Jensen
    • Siggy
    Eddie Constantine
    Eddie Constantine
    • Colonel Harris
    Max von Sydow
    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
    Hardy Rafn
    • Man in Housecoat
    Cæcilia Holbek Trier
    • Maid
    János Herskó
    János Herskó
    • Jewish Man
    • Director
      • Lars von Trier
    • Writers
      • Lars von Trier
      • Niels Vørsel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lars von Trier: the Jew who signs the affidavit clearing the name of the Zentropa owner.
    • Goofs
      In the transition before Leopold and Katharina get married, Leopold is initially on Katharina's left side before the altar, but at the end of the transition, he is on her right.
    • Quotes

      [opening lines]

      Narrator: You will now listen to my voice. My voice will help you and guide you still deeper into Europa. Every time you hear my voice, with every word and every number, you will enter into a still deeper layer - open, relaxed and receptive. I shall now count from one to ten. On the count of ten, you will be in Europa. I say: one. And as you focus your attention entirely on my voice, you will slowly begin to relax. Two - your hands and your fingers are getting warmer and heavier. Three - the warmth is spreading through your arms, to your shoulders and your neck. Four - your feet and your legs get heavier. Five - the warmth is spreading to the whole of your body. On six, I want you to go deeper. I say: six. And the whole of your relaxed body is slowly beginning to sink. Seven - you go deeper and deeper and deeper. Eight - on every breath you take, you go deeper. Nine - you are floating. On the mental count of ten, you will be in Europa. Be there at ten. I say: ten.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Making of 'Europa' (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Europa Aria
      Written by Lars von Trier

      Performed by Nina Hagen and Philippe Huttenlocher

      Courtesy of Virgin Musique

    User reviews65

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Best when watched between 3 and 5 am
    This is the fifth von Trier film I have seen. I believe that he is the only director to whom I have given such a high score on all his movies. Four of them, The Element of Crime, Europa, Breaking the Waves, and Dancer in the Dark, I have given a 10, and one, The Idiots, I have given a 9 (and I have been reconsidering whether to give it a 10 since I first saw it, although I'd like to see it once more before I do). He has been chided for calling himself one of the best working directors. I tend to agree with him. I cannot blame him for being arrogant when he has made such great films. In 50 years, when von Trier retires, he will be looked upon as the pre-eminent film artist from Europe (perhaps from the planet), and there will be classes taught in his name. He simply is the Bergman or Fellini of our time. It is too bad the critics are too intrigued with themselves to notice this.

    About Europa itself, I'll admit that it was confusing and that its narrative did not seem strong. I think that's the point. This film was obviously meant to represent a nightmare, or the subconscious at some level. This is absolutely clear from the framing of the film: Max von Sydow's narration. We are hypnotized, or von Trier is hypnotized, and this is our/his subconscious mind. I'm inclined to lean more towards his mind, since the degradation of Europe concerns me, an American, very little. This framing is also clear if you have seen The Element of Crime, an even more brilliant film than this (although I am disputing that in my mind; what Europa needs more than anything is a proper release on DVD, hopefully Criterion again, with theatrical aspect ratio and remastered sound and picture; then, I am fairly sure, this film would seem as great as any of von Trier's other films). In The Element of Crime, the film begins with a hypnotist, whom we actually see on screen this time, is hypnotizing Fisher, a European detective who wants to get to the root of his mental anguish. The first words of that film are "Fantasy is okay, but my job is to keep you on track." And whenever Fisher, the narrator, gets off track, the hypnotist does chastize him and tells him to get back on with the story. He even laughs when a character is given a really silly and trite line. Something along the lines of, "Do you understand the difference between good and evil?" The hypnotist laughs and says, "Now, Fisher, she didn't really say that, did she?"

    So the key to interpreting Europa, almost a sequel of sorts to The Element of Crime, is that we are deep in our/von Trier's subconscious, and the symbols there are to be interpreted within ourselves and will likely be different for everyone. What does the train itself symbolize? Consider it internally, and only then discuss it externally. Europa is a great film, a masterpiece. I was never bored by it, even though I watched it at 3 am. The perfect time to watch, actually, since it works in dream logic.
    helpful•41
    12
    • zetes
    • Nov 13, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 27, 1991 (Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • Denmark
      • Sweden
      • France
      • Germany
      • Switzerland
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Zentropa
    • Filming locations
      • Nordisk Film Risby Studierne, Albertslund, Sjælland, Denmark
    • Production companies
      • Alicéléo
      • Coproduction Office
      • Det Danske Filminstitut
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • DKK 28,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,007,001
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $21,447
      • May 25, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,022,282
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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