Forbrydelsens element (1984)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writers:

Niels Vørsel (writer) &
William Quarshie (dialogue translation) ...

Release Date:

14 May 1984 (Denmark)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.

Plot Keywords:

Method | Hypnosis | Serial Killer | Detective | Water

Awards:

11 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Michael Elphick	...	Fisher
Esmond Knight	...	Osborne
Me Me Lai	...	Kim (as Meme Lai)
Jerold Wells	...	Kramer
Ahmed El Shenawi	...	Therapist
Astrid Henning-Jensen	...	House Keeper
János Herskó	...	Coroner (as Janos Hersko)
Stig Larsson	...	Coroner's Assistant
Harry Harper	...	Portier 1
Roman Moszkowicz	...	Portier 2
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

Also Known As:

The Element of Crime (UK) (USA)
The Last Tourist in Europe (Denmark) (working title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Denmark

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (tinted) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Italy:T | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:R(A) | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 | UK:15 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Det Danske Filmstudie, Lyngby, Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Det Danske Filminstitut

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:

[first lines]
Therapist: [to Fisher] Fantasy is OK, but my job to keep you on the right track. We are after the facts. You seem to return to Cairo and me whenever you have a problem. Two months ago you left Cairo, your wife, everything for a police job in Europe. Now you are back haunted by headaches. If you want me to help you get rid of these headaches, we must go back two months in the time. Back to where it all started. All I know... Europe has become an obsession for you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Storyboarding 'Element of Crime' with Cinematographer Tom Elling (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Der Letzte Tourist in Europa

Out of my element

Element Of Crime As a big fan of Lars Von Trier (well, OK, I can't stand his Dogville trilogy) I was really enthusiastic about seeing Von Trier's first film, Element Of Crime. I certainly took my TIME to see it, as I've been meaning to see it for I don't know, 5 years? A detective is recruited to investigate a series of child murders in Germany, while of course, fighting his own demons. During his investigation, he incorporates his mentor's book "The Element Of Crime" to help him solve the murders. The problem with this is,. Soon the elements are leading him to possibly be a murderer himself! Ahhh, this movie was alright I guess, you certainly can see a lot of Von Trier's other works in this (most notably, Europa) but man, this seriously drags into one depressing scene after another, it's not really paced well, and well, I've almost forgotten all that mattered (It's about an investigation.. and.. what?). Not really one of my fave Von Trier movies, but certainly interesting to say the least.