The Element of Crime

Original title: Forbrydelsens element

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

A cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.A cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.A cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

12K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 12 wins & 3 nominations

Photos67

+ 63

Top cast20

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Michael Elphick

Fisher

Esmond Knight

Osborne

Me Me Lai

Kim
(as Meme Lai)

Jerold Wells

Kramer

Ahmed El Shenawi

Therapist

Astrid Henning-Jensen

House Keeper

János Herskó

Coroner
(as Janos Hersko)

Stig Larsson

Coroner's Assistant

Harry Harper

Portier 1

Roman Moszkowicz

Portier 2

Lars von Trier

Schmuck of Ages
(as Lars Von Trier)

Frederik Casby

White Policeman

Duke Addabayo

Black Policeman

Jon Bang Carlsen

Angry Policeman
(as Jon Bang-Carlsen)

Leif Magnusson

Hotel Guest

Preben Lerdorff Rye

Grandfather
(as Preben Leerdorff-Rye)

Camilla Overbye Roos

Lotto Girl 1
(as Camilla Overbye)

Maria Holkenfeldt-Behrendt

Lotto Girl 2
(as Maria Behrendt)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The first film in Lars von Trier's 'Europa' trilogy which illuminates the traumas of Europe in the future. The two other parts are Epidemic (1987) and Europa (1991).

Quotes
Fisher: I'm gonna fuck you back to the stone age.

Connections
Edited into Eventyret om dansk film 18: Nye perspektiver - 1970-1987 (1996)

Soundtracks
Der Letzte Tourist in Europa
By Mogens Dam, Henrik Blichmann
Translated by Waltraut Andersen
Sung by Sonja Kehler

User reviews56

Review

Featured review

7/10

I'm gonna f8ck you back to the stone age.

How to describe a film so avant-garde that Dirk Bogarde threatened to quit the Cannes jury if it got an award? A film that references Blade runner, with a burned-out cop (Michael Elphick) brought back into a futuristic Europe to find a serial killer. A film that has been described by some as "The Silence of the Lambs" meets "Delicatessen".

Fans of David Lynch may thrill at this futuristic film noir. Many will run for the exits, as it takes quite a bit of time to develop.

It is Lars von Trier's first English-language film, and it is in a sepia-tone that adds to the feeling that Europe is crumbling. Water is an element that flows throughout, again adding to the feeling that something is rotten.

Elphick hooks up with Me Me Lai in her last film. She had done a lot of cannibal work before this - an interesting combination of actors.

Elphick goes into a experimental drug-induced hypnotic state to try and recreate the crimes and catch the killer. Things get really surreal from here.

Cinematography, sound, and special effects were all superb in this very strange film.