Europa trilogy
Encyclopedia
The Europa Trilogy is a film trilogy written and directed by Lars von Trier
, comprising his three feature films The Element of Crime
(1984), Epidemic
(1987) and Europa (1991). The films are not a narrative trilogy
, but rather are linked by common themes and stylistic explorations. The overarching subject of the trilogy may be taken to be the social crisis of postwar Europe
. Each of the three films follows a character whose idealistic actions ultimately perpetuate the very problem he seeks to solve. Von Trier's later USA - Land of Opportunities Trilogy also deals with both apparent social collapse, and the ill-effects of the interventions of idealistic individuals. The trilogy also experiments with film noir
conventions, and explores hypnosis and the relationship between reality and unreality.
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....
, comprising his three feature films 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), Epidemic
Epidemic (film)
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 and Europa ....
(1987) and Europa (1991). The films are not a narrative trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
, but rather are linked by common themes and stylistic explorations. The overarching subject of the trilogy may be taken to be the social crisis of postwar Europe
Effects of World War II
The effects of World War II had far-reaching implications for most of the world. Many millions of lives had been lost as a result of the war...
. Each of the three films follows a character whose idealistic actions ultimately perpetuate the very problem he seeks to solve. Von Trier's later USA - Land of Opportunities Trilogy also deals with both apparent social collapse, and the ill-effects of the interventions of idealistic individuals. The trilogy also experiments with film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
conventions, and explores hypnosis and the relationship between reality and unreality.