- Release Date: 1984
- Runtime: 104 min
- Genre: Drama, Thriller
- Starring: Michael Elphick, Esmond Knight, Me Me Lai, Jerold Wells ... see all
- Director: Lars von Trier
- Plot: Fisher, an ex-cop, returns to his old beat somewhere in northern Europe after a thirteen-year hiatus in Cairo. His former mentor and role model, author of a treatise called "The... Read more
User Reviews
"The Silence of the Lambs" meets "Delicatessen"
May 03, 2008
Aluísio Parondi - imdb.com
May 03, 2008Aluísio Parondi - imdb.com
Lars Von Trier's feature début is a stylish, extremely bizarre and intriguing tapestry about an ex-cop (Michael Elphick) who obsessively pursues a serial killer. Playing with different film genres and supported by a fantastic production design, "The Element of Crime"... Full review
An existentialist detective story, or a waking dream?
Dec 29, 2007
Graham Greene - imdb.com
Dec 29, 2007Graham Greene - imdb.com
Beginning a trilogy of films dealing specifically with the decline of post-war Europe, this extraordinary, heavily referential, psychological thriller would be the first cinematic outing from acclaimed Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier. Like all of the director's early works, the... Full review
Groundbreaking use of cinematic styles and expressions
Sep 23, 2006
Camera Obscura - imdb.com
Sep 23, 2006Camera Obscura - imdb.com
Some called it the kick in the pants cinema needed, the savior of cinema and work of genius. Others find Lars von Trier's debut feature unbearably pretentious and consider this a beautiful but utterly empty work of art. Whatever your... Full review
Everything fits.
Jul 20, 2004
- imdb.com
Jul 20, 2004- imdb.com
This film does its job well. If you don't follow the reason for everything you see, don't worry about it. In the beginning, the story is set up so that we're (possibly) seeing the film as if we're under hypnosis... Full review
Schmuck of Ages
Apr 26, 2003
David H. Schleicher - imdb.com
Apr 26, 2003David H. Schleicher - imdb.com
Hypnosis and criminology get the once over in this highly disturbing first entry from maverick film-maker Von Trier. A washed up profiler returns home to a post-apocalyptic Europe from Cairo to investigate "The Lotto Girl" murders and becomes determined to... Full review
Lars von Trier's dazzling dystopia. As if Peter Greenaway directed 'Blade Runner' with a script by David Lynch.
Jan 28, 2003
Infofreak - imdb.com
Jan 28, 2003Infofreak - imdb.com
It's taken me a long time but I've finally managed to see Lars von Trier's debut feature film. And boy, was it worth the wait! Those who are mainly familiar with his recent work might find this fascinating and visually... Full review
"Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink
" (possible spoilers)
Aug 22, 2002
Lord Arthur Nameless - imdb.com
Aug 22, 2002Lord Arthur Nameless - imdb.com
Opening a trilogy of films dealing with the effect and decline of post-war Europe, this extraordinary, heavily referential psychological thriller marked the first cinematic outing from Danish maverick (and dogma godfather) Lars von Trier. Unfolding in an undisclosed European country,... Full review
More Subjective reality
Feb 14, 2002
AdFin - imdb.com
Feb 14, 2002AdFin - imdb.com
This is yet another film that easily conforms to my theory of Subjective Reality (see Kafka), to be honest it may not even be my theory, but whose ever it was, it has been distorted to my own way of... Full review
What kind of world is this?
Jan 05, 2002
Ryan - imdb.com
Jan 05, 2002Ryan - imdb.com
Though supposedly taking place somewhere in West Germany, I cannot imagine a world such as this, with the exceptions of perhaps a Mad Max movie, or maybe Waterworld. Water seems to be the dominant element in the film; the entire piece... Full review
pure genius
Sep 16, 2001
Venda Ballard - imdb.com
Sep 16, 2001Venda Ballard - imdb.com
The day after I saw this film for the first time, I had to sit down and watch it again. Not because I thought I'd missed something, but because the story and visuals are so compelling that it's the kind... Full review
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