10 Best Lars von Trier Films
Lars von Trier is one of those directors you either love or hate. You either have a rabid distaste for his work and his persona or you think he is a misinterpreted director who makes gorgeous yet provocative films. Not too many people fall in between these two emotions when discussing the films of the Melancholy Dane. Personally, I have always aligned myself with the misunderstood cinematic genius set, which I suppose will become quite evident in the forthcoming list. Overall, the divisive auteur has completed eleven feature films, as well as an assortment of various TV projects and documentaries. This past week saw the US release of the audacious auteur’s newest work, so what better time than now to create such a list. So, without further ado, here are my choices for the 10 Best Lars von Trier Films.
10. The Element of Crime
Von Trier’s debut feature, The Element of Crime, as can be seen by the screenshot above, is a strangely hued, half sepia, half jaundiced, work of semi-experimental cinema. Think Guy Maddin meets David Lynch. It is von Trier’s attempt at a Tarkovsky inspired film noir. Set in a dystopian future Europe where a disgraced cop must solve the crimes of a possible serial killer. In a chaotic world that seems to have little or no law and order left, von Trier’s film is an horror movie as cop thriller. Many will probably be unable to make any sense of the convoluted and fragmented story (it may or may not be told through a hypnotic state) but it surely does glide through in the most giddy manner.
9. The Idiots
This was LvT’s contribution to the Dogme 95 movement the director helped to create. A Scandinavian film movement that wanted to erase the corporate aspect of movie-making and bring it back to the most basic aspects. With a manifesto, or vow of chastity, that included no soundtrack, no artificial lighting and no directorial credit, The Idiots is the story of a band of men and women who spend their time seeking their “inner idiot” to release their inhibitions. They do so by behaving in public as if they were mentally disturbed and disabled – disrupting restaurant patrons, running around naked, “spazzing out” in front of friends and family. A dark comedy of sorts, this is a sometimes hilarious, sometimes disturbing film.
8. The Boss Of It All
Although there is comedy in both The Idiots and, strangely enough, Melancholia, The Boss Of It All is von Trier’s only true comedy film. It is the story of the owner of a Danish IT company who has been pretending to have a boss above him so he could blame someone else for some of his harsher decisions. Due to circumstances though, he must reveal this unseen boss to his employees, so he hires an out-of-work actor to play the part. Then, believe it or not, hilarity ensues. The film was shot using a process that von Trier has called Automavision, which involves the director choosing the best possible fixed camera position and then allowing a computer to randomly choose when to tilt, pan or zoom. Even in the lightest of comedies, von Trier cannot leave innovation out of it. And it looks like Hollywood will remake the film very soon.
7. Medea
Based on a never-filmed screenplay by Carl Theodor Dreyer (one of LvT’s cinematic idols) of the Euripides play, this Greek tragedy was produced for Danish television in 1988. Very rarely seen in the US, and having never been made available on any sort of video, it is surely a hard film to find but certainly worth it if you do. I originally found a VHS copy that had been taped off of Danish TV. A moody, dreary film, befitting the tragic play itself, von Trier weaves us through dark caves and dank castles, sweeping us through harsh fields and forests and sanguine river beds, taking us deeper and deeper into this oh so horrible story of betrayal and desperation and eventually, death. A horrifying yet quite stunning film.
6. Antichrist
My wife, who incidentally loved both Dogville and Dancer in the Dark, and therefore cannot be seen as one of your typical von Trier haters, walked out of this film about a half hour in. This was long before the infamous genital mutilation scenes, and even before the talking fox or the deer devouring itself. For a film like Antichrist, this is more than a typical reaction. Probably the director’s most disturbing film (and it surely has a lot of competition for that role) it is also the filmmaker’s most audacious – and again, there is a lot of competition. Looking at the way people handle despair – a career long obsession for the director – Antichrist purposely pushes people’s buttons, more than even what is considered normal for the oeuvre of a man like von Trier.
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20 Comments
Usually when I read lists like this (of filmmakers that I respect but haven’t seen that much of) it immediately prompts me to want to start a marathon of watching some of the top picks. However, Von Trier is a filmmaker that technically I respect, but his stories (and some of his visuals) scare me. Refn is violent (and that’s ok to me) but some of the fucked up shit I’ve seen in the two films (Antichrist and Melancholia) that I’ve seen from him makes me worried to watch more.
I’ve been planning to check out Dancer in the Dark for a while now… but haven’t had the courage to press play. Hope to overcome that fear one of these days. Just like me hoping that before the year is out I can manage to stomach watching A SERBIAN FILM.
LvT’s films are definitely an acquired taste. You should definitely press play on Dancer in the Dark – just watch out for that ending.
Dancer in the Dar in intense and beautiful! Press Play!
Dancer in the Dark….(my bad)…
Let’s see…
For me so far…
1. Breaking the Waves
2. Antichrist
3. Dogville
4. Europa
5. The Five Obstructions
6. Dogme #2-Idioterne
7. Melancholia
8. Dancer in the Dark
9. Manderlay
10. The Element of Crime
11. Epidemic
12. To Each His Own Cinema-Occupations
13. The Boss of It All
Among the films I haven’t seen, not counting some shorts, are “Medea” and the two “Kingdom” films as I’m going to watch them in late December/early January for my Auteurs profile on Lars Von Trier in January.
I did not like Epidemic or Manderlay at all. The Kingdoms are interesting but nothing great, and The Five Obstructions is again, a rather fascinating look at the art and act of cinema, but nothing to exactly write home about.
What about the “Occupations” short?
Great list, Kevin. I’m in the same boat as you when it comes to admiring LvT, although a couple of his films have evaded me, most namely Breaking the Waves.
My favorite would probably be Dancer in the Dark, followed closely by Antichrist and Dogville.
Nice list. I haven’t seen Lars’ earlier work (Europa etc.) nor have I seen Breaking the Waves. But for me it would go Dancer in the Dark and Antichrist, then Dogville (though I should watch it again) and then the recent Melancholia.
Fuck yes. I love this list. Lars Von Trier is one of my favourite directors, and I fully approve of all your choices here. However, I might place them in a different order. Here’s what my top 5 would be:
5: Dancer in the Dark
4: The Idiots
3: Antichrist
2: Dogville
1: Breaking the Waves
I also like his earlier work (especially EUROPA), but from BREAKING THE WAVES onwards he made his best stuff. I also think THE IDIOTS is incredibly underrated. I’ve met a lot of haters in my time as an LvT fan, so it’s nice to meet someone who has a similar opinion to myself.
Yes, LvT is definitely one of those directors that elicit a rabid response – either for or against.
I immediately thought of you Tyler when I saw this list.
I am not a fan, but that doesn’t mean I hate his work, I am just kinda stayed away. I want to dip my toe in and this seems like a great list to help me on my way
Thanks Kevyn
Really? Dogville is the best? That sounds great because I just recently bought it on a flee market, just out of curiosity. I haven’t seen any of von Triers films, but I just have that feeling that I like them…
I completely agree with the #1 spot. I don’t think any of Von Trier’s films best represent his proclivities and skills as a filmmaker quite like Dogville does. Granted, I haven’t seen Europa or Melancholia. I hope to remedy the latter sooner rather than later.
Personally, I find it weird that Steve McQueen can be lauded as an artist for Hunger while Von Trier is treated as something of a transgressive exploitative filmmaker, when that particular film is no less brutal and upsetting than Antichrist. But that’s just me.
This article has made me realise that I really need to start exploring the cinema of Denmark and of Lars von Trier a lot more, seeing as I’ve only seen six of the films mentioned.
I really haven’t seen that many of Lars von Trier’s films, but I was relieved to see you didn’t have Manderlay on here. I’m not a fan of that movie at all. I did enjoy Dancer in the Dark a lot and need to check out some of his other top picks, including Breaking the Waves. Lots of interesting movies on here that I have to check out.
Dogville was the first von Trier film I saw, and I immediately loved it, while also being disturbed by it. He has that way about him. As I moved up the list I realized that Dogville was going to be on the top, and I got a little happy inside.
Melancholia and Antichrist are also great, though. I’m not as big a fan of Dancer in the Dark, though I might be on rewatch. Something about it sat wrong with me (and it wasn’t Bjork, strangely enough).
I have only seen Breaking the Waves. Unfortunately time has not been kind to my response to the film. Or maybe I am just getting thick in my advancing years. But I really don’t get it though.
I think he is a guy whose works you are either “with” or indifferent to.
A dubious title for a top ten if ever there was one. Despair is certainly a theme attached to Von Trier films, onscreen and in front of it. Not a fan.
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