Lars von Trier

Lore & Background

Lars von Trier was born Lars Trier in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, to Inger Høst and Ulf Trier. He later learned from his mother's deathbed that his biological father was Fritz Michael Hartmann, her former boss and a World War II resistance fighter. He studied film theory at the University of Copenhagen and film direction at the National Film School of Denmark. At 25, he won two Best School Film awards at the Munich International Festival of Film Schools for Nocturne and Last Detail, and added the nobiliary particle 'von' to his name, possibly as a satirical homage to directors Erich von Stroheim and Josef von Sternberg.

His breakthrough film, The Element of Crime (1984), won twelve awards at seven international festivals. He structured his films into thematic trilogies, beginning with the Europa trilogy (The Element of Crime, Epidemic, Europa). In 1992, he co-founded Zentropa with producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen. In 1995, with Thomas Vinterberg, he presented the Dogme 95 manifesto, which required filmmakers to forgo studio lighting, sets, costumes, and non-diegetic music. His Golden Heart trilogy—Breaking the Waves, The Idiots, and Dancer in the Dark—brought international success, with Dancer in the Dark winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

Trier has been the subject of controversies, including being declared persona non grata at Cannes for a Nazism joke, criticism over animal harm on the set of Manderlay, and accusations of mistreatment of actresses such as Björk. His later works include the USA: Land of Opportunities trilogy (Dogville, Manderlay, and the unmade Washington) and experimental films like The Five Obstructions.

Reader's Guide

Lars von Trier's significance lies in his role as a central, provocative figure in European cinema. As co-creator of Dogme 95, he helped inspire a global movement that stripped filmmaking back to its essentials, influencing countless directors. His founding of Zentropa provided a platform for independent Danish film production, with its films selling over 350 million tickets and earning multiple Academy Award nominations. His work consistently confronts existential, social, and psychosexual issues, often through innovative techniques such as the bare-stage style of Dogville or the computer-controlled Automavision in The Boss of It All. Despite—or because of—the controversies surrounding his comments and on-set practices, his films remain touchstones for their ambition and technical daring. His legacy is that of an artist who pushed boundaries, both in form and content, leaving an indelible mark on world cinema.

Did You Know?

• Lars von Trier added the nobiliary particle 'von' to his name at age 25, possibly as a satirical homage to directors Erich von Stroheim and Josef von Sternberg.
• He co-founded the film production company Zentropa in 1992, whose films have sold more than 350 million tickets and garnered eight Academy Award nominations.
• The Cannes Film Festival once listed him as persona non grata for making a Nazism joke during an interview.
• His film Dancer in the Dark, a musical featuring Björk, won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, and the song 'I've Seen It All' was nominated for an Academy Award.