Directed by: Lars von Trier Script: Lars von Trier, Niels Vørsel Producer: Per Holst Production company: Per Holst Filmproduktion, Det Danske Filminstitut Cinematography: Tom Elling Editing: Tómas Gislason Music: Bo Holter Cast: Michael Elphick, Esmond Knight, Me Me Lai, Jerold Wells
Format: 35 mm Running time: 103'
Synopsis English detective named Fisher who has become an expatriate living in Cairo, undergoes hypnosis in order to recall his last case. The Europe of his dreamlike recollection is a dystopia, dark and decaying. Fisher remembers pursuing an elusive killer called the ‘Lotto Murderer’, who was strangling and then mutilating young girls who were selling lottery tickets. He attempts to track down the killer using the controversial methods outlined in a book entitled The Element of Crime, written by his disgraced mentor, Osborne. He is joined in his search by a prostitute who, it turns out, has had a child by his target. Fisher's search is based on a tailing report written by Osborne when trying to track down a murderer who had been killing in the same way as the ‘Lotto Murderer’, but who, supposedly, has since died in a crash. The Osborne method requires the detective to try to identify with the mind of the killer. This he does, but, in so doing, begins to behave more and more like a serial killer himself.
Awards and Festivals Bodil Awards 1985 - Best Film
Cannes Film Festival 1984 - Technical Grand Prize
Fantasporto 1986 - Best Director
Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival 1984 - Josef von Sternberg Award
Robert Festival 1985 - Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Editing, Best Film, Best Production Design, Best Sound, Best Special Effects
Directors Biography Lars von Trier was born in 1956, Denmark. Graduate of the National Film School of Denmark, 1983. His graduation film 'Images of Relief' (1982) evoked the attention of the critics, who declared there was nothing comparable in Danish cinema since Dreyer. In a few years Von Trier became an internationally acclaimed auteur director of feature films. Trier is also innovator and partner of Zentropa, a visionary Danish production company, and cofounder of Dogme95, a concept which has inspired filmmakers worldwide. Von Trier's major films fall into three trilogies: E-Trilogy (‘Element of Crime’, ‘Epidemic’, ‘Europa’), the Golden Heart Trilogy (‘Breaking the Waves’, ‘The Idiots’, ‘Dancer in the Dark’), and his US Trilogy (‘Dogville’ and ‘Manderlay’, third film yet to be produced).
Location and screening schedule: ZAGREB DANCE CENTER, Monday, October 17th at 20.30