29 December 2016

A filmmaker you need to know about, Lars Von Trier: the depression trilogy

He said "political correctness kills discussion", so let's discuss that.

[L]ars Von Trier is a Danish filmmaker and screenwriter whose work has been critically lauded, derided and massively split public opinion. His unusual upbringing, nudist liberal parents who abolished any kind of rules and regulations on children shaped Lars into quite a perturbed young man. His phobias, anxieties and mental health problems have all strongly informed his films, notably his unofficial “depression trilogy”, which we’ve covered below. His other less commercial ventures such as Zentropa Entertainments, has been the only mainstream production company to produce hardcore pornographic films aimed at women and gay men such as Pink Paradise, Constance and HotMen CoolBoys.

Antichrist (2009)

"Chaos reigns."

"A crying woman is a scheming woman."

"Grief is not a disease. It's a natural healthy reaction"

"Nature is Satan's church"

Antichrist has been called “the most misogynist movie from the self-proclaimed biggest director in the world”, by Promouvoir, the Catholic traditionalist film group, who have since succeeded in having it banned from all media in France seven years after its release. It tells of an unnamed married couple (Willem Defoe and regular Von Trier actress Charlotte Gainsbourg), who after the death of their son retreat into the woods to process their grief, which manifests itself in a series of brutally violent ways.  Roger Ebert defended the film saying “these passages have been referred to as “torture porn.” Sadomasochistic they certainly are, but porn is entirely in the mind of the beholder. Will even a single audience member find these scenes erotic? That is hard to imagine” and it definitely is. You’ll have to watch for yourself, start with the trailer below.

Melancholia (2011)

"Life is only on Earth. And not for long."

"I smile, and I smile, and I smile."

"I'm happy that you're happy."

Melancholia revolves around two sisters, one of which is waiting to be wed, as a rogue planet is set to collide with earth. It’s one of those films, like A Single Man or The Dreamers  where the mise-en-scene is so well crafted that any screen-grab would not look out of place on a high fashion editorial. Lars Von Trier claims the idea for this film came about after his revelation that people with depressive episodes are able to remain more calm under catastrophic situations. Kirsten Dunst received the Cannes Best Actress Award and unanimously high critical praise for her performance. Film critic Steven Loeb commented that “this film has brought the best out of von Trier, as well as his star. Dunst is so good in this film, playing a character unlike any other she has ever attempted. Even if the film itself were not the incredible work of art that it is, Dunst’s performance alone would be incentive enough to recommend it.” Have a look at the trailer below.

Nymphomaniac VOl I and II (2013)

"Perhaps the only difference between me and other people was that I've always demanded more from the sunset; more spectacular colors when the sun hit the horizon. That's perhaps my only sin."

"Basically, we're all waiting for permission to die."

"The human qualities can be expressed in one word: hypocrisy."

Lars Von Trier’s exploration of libido is as dark and long-winded (5.5 hours uncut) as you would expect drawing out the talents of Charlotte Gainsbourg (of course), Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Uma Thurman, Jamie Bell and Stacy Martin. Containing a juxtaposing soundtrack of classical music and rock, Von Trier has crafted a film that explores every facet of disenfranchised sexuality. Polymath and astute social critic Shia LaBeof said “The movie is what you think it is. It is Lars von Trier, making a movie about what he’s making. For instance, there’s a disclaimer at the top of the script that basically says we’re doing it for real. Everything that is illegal, we’ll shoot in blurred images. Other than that, everything is happening. … Von Trier’s dangerous. He scares me. And I’m only going to work now when I’m terrified.”

A final note of controversy occurred when rumours surfaced that a cinema in Florida accidentally screened the trailer before the showing of Disney’s Frozen, to the general horror of the parents.