Europa trilogy
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| Europa | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Lars von Trier |
| Written by | Lars von Trier and Niels Vørsel |
Release dates |
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| Country | Denmark |
| Language | English |
The Europa trilogy is an experimental film trilogy created by Danish writers Lars von Trier and Niels Vørsel, comprising his three feature films The Element of Crime (1984), Epidemic (1987) and Europa (1991).[1]
Each films set in different locations of
The first and third films received largely positive reviews and garnered numerous awards including Vulcan Award twice, while the second received mixed reviews.
Films
The Element of Crime
Von Trier's first film is The Element of Crime, a 1984 crime drama film with elements of dystopian and neo-noir genres set in a decaying future Europe. Michael Elphick portrays Fisher, a detective who has become an expatriate living in Cairo, undergoes hypnosis in order to recall his last case.
Epidemic
Von Trier's second film is Epidemic, a 1987 horror film with elements of black comedy, medical thriller, and metafiction set in Copenhagen, Denmark. Von Trier and Niels Vørsel portray themselves as two of the three protagonists who write a new script about an epidemic: the outbreak of a plague-like disease. Last of the three protagonist is a doctor, Mesmer, who portrays von Trier himself, goes to the countryside to find a cure.
Europa
Von Trier's third film is
Production and release
Due to lack of collaborations in his first film, Von Trier himself and Leif Magnusson are the only two actors who appeared in all films. Among others, Von Trier's ex-wife Cecilia Holbek and frequent collaborator Udo Kier also appeared in the latter two films.
| English title | Danish title | Release date | Director | Writer | Producer | Cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Element of Crime | Forbrydelsens element | May 14, 1984 | Lars von Trier | Lars von Trier and Niels Vørsel | Per Holst |
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| Epidemic | Epidemic | September 11, 1987 | Jacob Eriksen |
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| Zentropa | Europa | May 12, 1991 | Peter Aalbæk Jensen and Bo Christensen |
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Reception
Critical response
| English title | Danish title | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Element of Crime | Forbrydelsens element | 77% (13 reviews) | 66% (6 reviews) |
| Epidemic | Epidemic | 27% (7 reviews) | 66% (4 reviews) |
| Zentropa | Europa | 80% (15 reviews) | 69% (15 reviews) |
Awards
| English title | Danish title | Accolades |
|---|---|---|
| The Element of Crime | Forbrydelsens element | Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival – Grand Prix
Fantasporto Award for Best Director Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival – Main Award |
| Epidemic | Epidemic | |
| Zentropa | Europa | Stockholm Film Festival – Bronze Horse
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Legacy
Europa trilogy was officially collected as a part of The Criterion Collection on January 17, 2023.[2]
References
- ^ Studi nordici. Istituti editoriali e poligrafici internazionali. 1 January 2005. p. 85. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
- ^ "Shop". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
Further reading
- Simons, Jan (15 September 2007). Playing the waves: Lars Von Trier's game cinema. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 978-90-5356-979-5. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
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