The Element of Crime

"Do you believe me? I'm in the middle of Europe screwing a Volkswagen 1200.

One detects the influence of many directors on the young Von Trier, many have already been mentioned (Tarkovsky, Hitchcock, Bergman, etc), but Tarkovsky looms the largest. The opening scene is a direct quote of 'Andrei Rublev', from there on in we are treated to ever increasing levels of Tarkovsky-esq rain, dripping faucets, people standing in water, until it becomes almost comical.

Hyper-stylized visuals, a peculiar color palette (with an emphasis on red and yellow), and suffocating sets trump a serial killer story that is seriously lacking in drive and suspense. After a good start with the hypnosis sequence, the film literally loses the plot, and with it any point of contact with the viewer, becoming dreary and murky.

Lars von Trier is famous for his different approach in topics and with camera, and The Element of Crime is his first feature film, where his visions and working mode are visible already. However, having seen this film, I should admit that my wishes and purpose to watch topical films are different well, either cop or criminal might have different considerations and all psychology stuff can be shown as well, but not together with deviating the viewers from a logical ending where unknown events become known and offender or offenders are revealed.

A surreal crime film of great aesthetic appeal, which is less interested in the crime, but asks questions about the state of society.

Yellow tones, a gloomy atmosphere. Trier's first-feature movie.

The Element of Crime, also known as Forbrydelsens element, is a 1984 crime film directed by Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier that also marked his international debut. The Element of Crime is the first installment in von Trier's highly acclaimed Europe Trilogy—the other two being Epidemic (1987) and Europa (1991).

Director Lars Von Trier's first feature length film, The Element of Crime, follows a former cop named Fisher, played by Michael Elphick, who is remembering the last case he worked on using unconventional methods to track down a serial killer known as the Lotto Murderer. As Fisher returns to the investigation, searching through his memories, everything is extremely eerie and surreal.

A cop (Michael Elphick) in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor (Esmond Knight).The first film in Lars von Trier's 'Europa' trilogy which illuminates the traumas of Europe in the future.