The Element of Crime

The Element of Crime

Directed by Lars von Trier • 1984 • Denmark

Lars von Trier's stunning debut film is the story of Fisher, an exiled ex-cop who returns to his old beat to catch a serial killer with a taste for young girls. Influenced equally by Hitchcock and science fiction, von Trier (Europa, Breaking the Waves, The Idiots) boldly reinvents expressionist style for his own cinematic vision of a post-apocalyptic world. Shot in shades of sepia, with occasional, startling flashes of bright blue, THE ELEMENT OF CRIME (Forbrydelsens Element) combines dark mystery and operatic sweep to yield a pure celluloid nightmare.

The Element of Crime
  • The Element of Crime

    Directed by Lars von Trier • 1984 • Denmark

    Lars von Trier's stunning debut film is the story of Fisher, an exiled ex-cop who returns to his old beat to catch a serial killer with a taste for young girls. Influenced equally by Hitchcock and science fiction, von Trier (Europa, Breaking the Wave...

Extras

  • THE ELEMENT OF CRIME Commentary 1

    This commentary track, recorded in 2005, features director Lars von Trier, film and sound editor Tómas Gislason, and cinematographer Tom Elling.

  • THE ELEMENT OF CRIME Commentary 2

    This commentary track, recorded in 2005, features film scholar Peter Schepelern and filmmaker and critic Stig Björkman.

  • Tranceformer: A Portrait of Lars von Trier

    Filmmaker and critic Stig Björkman interviewed director Lars von Trier over the course of two years for this 1997 documentary portrait.

  • Storyboarding THE ELEMENT OF CRIME

    In this 2005 interview, cinematographer Tom Elling explains how his detailed storyboards guided him and director Lars von Trier through the shooting and editing process.

  • Ennenstadt Europa—The Making of THE ELEMENT OF CRIME

    This 1984 documentary shows behind-the-scenes footage from the production of THE ELEMENT OF CRIME. Director Lars von Trier, executive producer Per Holst, and actors Michael Elphick and MeMe Lai are among those interviewed.

  • Anecdotes from THE ELEMENT OF CRIME

    This short 2005 documentary about THE ELEMENT OF CRIME's production features interviews with film scholar Peter Schepelern, film and sound editor Tómas Gislason, assistant director Åke Sandgren, executive producer Per Holst, prop master Peter Grant, production manager Per Årman, gaffer Birger Lar...

  • Nocturne

    In 1980, while he was a student at the National Film School of Denmark, Lars von Trier made this experimental short film about a young woman who has become phobic about daylight after a frightening incident.

  • Images of Liberation

    In 1982, while he was a student at the National Film School of Denmark, Lars von Trier made this graduation film about a German officer and his Danish mistress waiting out the final days of the Nazi occupation in Copenhagen.