Epidemic (film)
Encyclopedia
Epidemic is a 1987 film directed by Lars von Trier
. It is the second of Trier's films known collectively as the Europa trilogy
. The other two films in the trilogy are The Element of Crime
(1984) and Europa (1991).
Co-written by Niels Vørsel, focuses on the screenwriting process. Vørsel and von Trier play themselves, coming up with a last-minute script for a producer. This story is intercut with scenes from the film they write, in which von Trier plays a renegade doctor trying to cure a modern-day epidemic
. This film marks the first in a series of collaborations between von Trier and Udo Kier
.
) and Niels (Niels Vørsel) lose the only copy of a movie’s script (Kommisæren Og Luderen, "The Policeman and the Whore," a reference to The Element of Crime
). They begin to write a new script about an epidemic: the outbreak of a plague-like disease. The protagonist is a doctor, Mesmer, who, against the will of the Faculty of Medicine of an unknown city, goes to the countryside to help people. During the next days, the facts of the script join the real-life events in which a similar disease starts to spread. Lars and Niels go to Germany, where they meet a man (Udo Kier
) who describes the bombing of Cologne during World War II. After the trip, Niels goes to a hospital where he undergoes a minor surgical procedure, and tells Lars to go to see Palle, a pathologist who is executing an autopsy to a man who has recently died of an unknown disease. The last day, Lars and Niels have a dinner with their producer, to whom they reveal the end of the movie, that Mesmer and his medical kit have spread the disease. The producer doesn’t like the short 12-page script, which has no violence, few deaths and no subplots (which are common in Danish cinema). After that a hypnotist and a woman arrive in the house, to “help” writing the script, but the woman is overpowered by the visions of the script which are becoming real. She commits suicide, then another woman who shares the house with Lars and Niels dies too, and Niels begins showing the signs of the disease.
In the movie there are some subplots like the choosing of the right wine and food for the dinner and the correspondence between Niels and a girl from Atlantic City.
section at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival
. It was nominated for Best Film at the Fantasporto
International Fantasy Film Festival in 1988.
Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier is a Danish film director and screenwriter. He is closely associated with the Dogme 95 collective, although his own films have taken a variety of different approaches, and have frequently received strongly divided critical opinion....
. It is the second of Trier's films known collectively as the Europa trilogy
Europa trilogy
The Europa Trilogy is a film trilogy written and directed by Lars von Trier, comprising his three feature films The Element of Crime , Epidemic and Europa . The films are not a narrative trilogy, but rather are linked by common themes and stylistic explorations. The overarching subject of the...
. The other two films in the trilogy are The Element of Crime
The Element of Crime
The Element of Crime is the first feature film directed by noted Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier. The film, released in 1984, is also the first in the director's Europa trilogy...
(1984) and Europa (1991).
Co-written by Niels Vørsel, focuses on the screenwriting process. Vørsel and von Trier play themselves, coming up with a last-minute script for a producer. This story is intercut with scenes from the film they write, in which von Trier plays a renegade doctor trying to cure a modern-day epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
. This film marks the first in a series of collaborations between von Trier and Udo Kier
Udo Kier
Udo Kier is a German actor, known primarily for his work in horror and exploitation movies.-Early life:...
.
Plot
The movie is divided into five days. On the first day the protagonists, screenwriters Lars (Lars Von TrierLars von Trier
Lars von Trier is a Danish film director and screenwriter. He is closely associated with the Dogme 95 collective, although his own films have taken a variety of different approaches, and have frequently received strongly divided critical opinion....
) and Niels (Niels Vørsel) lose the only copy of a movie’s script (Kommisæren Og Luderen, "The Policeman and the Whore," a reference to The Element of Crime
The Element of Crime
The Element of Crime is the first feature film directed by noted Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier. The film, released in 1984, is also the first in the director's Europa trilogy...
). They begin to write a new script about an epidemic: the outbreak of a plague-like disease. The protagonist is a doctor, Mesmer, who, against the will of the Faculty of Medicine of an unknown city, goes to the countryside to help people. During the next days, the facts of the script join the real-life events in which a similar disease starts to spread. Lars and Niels go to Germany, where they meet a man (Udo Kier
Udo Kier
Udo Kier is a German actor, known primarily for his work in horror and exploitation movies.-Early life:...
) who describes the bombing of Cologne during World War II. After the trip, Niels goes to a hospital where he undergoes a minor surgical procedure, and tells Lars to go to see Palle, a pathologist who is executing an autopsy to a man who has recently died of an unknown disease. The last day, Lars and Niels have a dinner with their producer, to whom they reveal the end of the movie, that Mesmer and his medical kit have spread the disease. The producer doesn’t like the short 12-page script, which has no violence, few deaths and no subplots (which are common in Danish cinema). After that a hypnotist and a woman arrive in the house, to “help” writing the script, but the woman is overpowered by the visions of the script which are becoming real. She commits suicide, then another woman who shares the house with Lars and Niels dies too, and Niels begins showing the signs of the disease.
In the movie there are some subplots like the choosing of the right wine and food for the dinner and the correspondence between Niels and a girl from Atlantic City.
Cast
- Allan De Waal
- Ole ErnstOle ErnstOle Ernst is a Danish film actor. He has appeared in 95 films and television shows since 1967. He starred in the 1983 film Der er et yndigt land, which won an Honourable Mention at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival....
- Michael Gelting
- Colin Gilder
- Svend Ali Hamann - Himself
- Claes Kastholm Hansen - Himself
- Ib Hansen
- Anja Hemmingsen
- Kirsten Hemmingsen
- Cæcilia Holbek Trier - (as Cæcilia Holbek)
- Gert Holbek
- Udo KierUdo KierUdo Kier is a German actor, known primarily for his work in horror and exploitation movies.-Early life:...
- Himself - Joergen Christian Krueff - (as Jørgen Christian Krüff)
- Jan Kornum Larsen
- Gitte Lind - Herself
Release and awards
The film was screened in the Un Certain RegardUn Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's Official Selection. It is run at the Salle Debussy, parallel to the competition for the Palme d'Or.This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob...
section at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival
1987 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Yves Montand*Danièle Heymann*Elem Klimov*Gérald Calderon*Jeremy Thomas*Jerzy Skolimowski*Nicola Piovani*Norman Mailer*Theo Angelopoulos-Feature film competition:...
. It was nominated for Best Film at the Fantasporto
Fantasporto
Fantasporto, also known as Fantas, is an international film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Giving screen space to commercial feature films, auteur films and experimental projects from all over the world, Fantasporto has created enthusiastic audiences, ranging from...
International Fantasy Film Festival in 1988.