Europa (AKA Zentropa)
Dir: Lars von Trier
1991
*****
Europa (known in North America as Zentropa so it wouldn't be confused with the German film Europa Europa released the year before) is, despite being a surreal and hallucinatory melodrama, probably Lars von Trier's most accessible film in my humble opinion (although I'm sure others will disagree). Visually moving, the mixing and multi-layering of rare black and white footage alongside colour noir style shots, at key moments and with perfect subtlety, is masterful. The cast is also superb, it's absolutely faultless and a perfect end to the Europe-trilogy (following The Element of Crime and Epidemic). Lars von Trier is now famous for making his films in trilogies, although this wasn't an idea initially, it seems to have stuck and it works. For me, his Europe-trilogy is the work of a young director stretching his legs and exercising what he's learnt and what he knows. It's a fascinating look at Europe's past and its future, referencing everything about it that has influenced Von trier (new wave cinema, deconstructivism) but it is still in the realms of film school thinking. Thanks to the trilogy of films he has developed his own unique style, his own work ethic and has learnt integrity. It represents the birth of a great director, and although I prefer his other Trilogies, this is his most important body of work.