The Element of Crime
Dir: Lars von Trier
1984
*****
1984's The Element of Crime is an astonishing feature debut from Lars Von Trier. There are a few obvious influences here (Andrei Arsenyevich, Bernardo Bertolucci) but nothing compered to the amount of films and directors who have obviously been influenced by it or indeed him since. Not that I think anyone comes close, he is a real one off and an often misunderstood genius. I believe The Element of Crime truly changed the future of cinema (you may not have seen it but film directors certainly have) and was way ahead of it's time (Jeunet's Delicatessen came out seven years later). It stars Michael Elphick, which is a bit of an unexpected bit of casting, and it is probably his best ever performance. The orange haze covering the bleak, dystopian future Europe is nothing short of beautiful. A true masterpiece from the saviour of European cinema and the beginning of both the Europe-trilogy (followed by Epidemic and Europa) and a colourful and controversial career.