The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review The Lars von Trier Collection DVD Review

Tartan + Electric Parc (The Lars von Trier Collection - 4 disc H) - Region 2 - PAL

NOTE: The Tartan is exactly the same as the Electric Parc edition!

It is 100% identical to the one from Eletric Parc, except the cover and the booklet are translated into English

DVD Box Cover

Element of Crime Epidemic Europa Bonus Disc

One of the most awaited DVD releases of 2005, Lars von Triers Europe Trilogy ("The Element of Crime", "Epidemic" and "Europa"), now comes in a 4-disc Hypnotic Edition from Electric Parc, as part of their "The Lars von Trier Collection".

This is the Danish edition. Because of copyright, the box will (possibly) later be released in other countries thru other companies. First in Germany (June 27) thru Legend, then later in Australia (Accent Film Entertainment), France and Holland (A-Film), Romania (IMV) and the UK (Tartan). So far only Germany is announced. All releases will be 100% identical, but may vary in subtitles. Depending on what language you chose on this DVD, you will get the above mentioned for each country respectable company logo.

Due to copyright being held by different companies, the box will not be released in the US or Canada.

NOTE:

For special collectors, 10 numbered collectors limited editions has been produced. Each will come in a wood replica of the Zentropa sleepwagon from "Europa", with posters and stills from the three films, the press booklet from "Epidemic" and the interviewbook by Stig Björkman, and of course the box itself. All elements are signed by Lars von Trier.

Five of these boxes will be sold to highest bidder thru an auction on Lauritz, beginning July 8th and ending July 18th.

Overall impressions:

The Image
All three films have been restored and digitally mastered into new anamorphic masters, maintaining their original aspect ration. It is not High Definition masters. Electric Parc actually made a HD sample, but as the films were very grainy by nature, they wouldn't benefit from High Definition. So weighing cost versus benefit, only normal masters were made.

Approved by Lars von Trier, the result is nothing less than breathtaking. Even when zooming in to 700%, there are no edge enhancements. Details are very good, colors are true to the original color palette. "Epidemic" displays minute chroma, "Europe" minute color banding. But that's about it. Simple a superb transfer.

The Sound
Sound comes either as the original 2.0 Dolby Digital track, or a for this release remixed 5.1 Dolby Digital track. Both tracks maintain a centre based dialogue, but the 5.1 Dolby Digital has a more balanced sound stage. Rears are very subtle, rarely in action.

"Europa" also has a dubbed 2.0 Dolby Digital German language track option.

The Extra
The real kicker on this box set is the additional material. Starting it all off, is a 16 page booklet where von Trier expert Peter Schepelern introduces von Trier and the trilogy.

- Henrik Sylow

(aka "Forbrydelsens element" )

directed by Lars von Trier
Denmark 1984

Lars von Trier’s stunning debut film is the story of Fisher, an exiled ex-cop who returns to his old beat to catch a serial killer with a taste for young girls. Influenced equally by Tarkovsky, Hitchcock and science fiction, von Trier ("Zentropa", "Breaking the Waves", "The Idiots") boldly reinvents expressionist style for his own cinematic vision of a post-apocalyptic world. Shot in shades of sepia, with occasional, startling flashes of bright blue, "The Element of Crime" ("Forbrydelsens Element") combines dark mystery and operatic sweep to yield a pure celluloid nightmare.

Poster

Theatrical Release: May 14, 1984

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Tartan and Electric Parc (The Lars von Trier Collection - 4 disc H) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the Review!

NOTE: The Tartan is exactly the same as the Electric Parc edition!

It is 100% identical to the one from Eletric Parc, except the cover and the booklet are translated into English

DVD Box Cover

Distribution
Electric Parc

Region 2 - PAL

Runtime 1:39:08 (4% PAL speedup)

Video
1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.72 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate

Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English

Subtitles Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, English, German, French, Dutch and None

Features Release Information:
Studio: Electric Parc
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by Lars von Trier, Tomas Gislason and Tom Elling
• Audio commentary by Peter Schepelern and Stig Bjørkman
• Ennenstadt Europa (30:21 / 4:3)
• Anecdotes from 'Element of Crime' (19:16 / 4:3)
• Trailer (2:05 / 16x9)
• Easter Egg: 'Nocture' with optional commentary by Lars von Trier and Tomas Gislason (8:36 / 4:3)

DVD Release Date: June 22, 2005
Digipack Box

Chapters 13

Comments The Element of Crime
Here we have two audio commentaries. The first is by Lars von Trier, writer and editor Tomas Gislason and cinematographer Tom Elling, a very relaxed reflection on the film and the production. It really is more three guys sitting and casual talking about the scenes and the production. The second is by von Trier expert Peter Schepelern and director Stig Bjørkman (who made the von Trier portrait "Transformer"), where the discuss the history and various aspects of the film. Both commentaries are in Danish, but subtitled in available languages. A superb and very insightful commentary.

Two documentaries about the film follows: "Ennenstadt Europa", made by Danish television in 1984, and "Anecdotes from Element of Crime", a for this DVD release made reflection.

Lars von Triers student film "Nocture" is added as an easter egg. Click the von Trier image on the right of the Extras menu to access.
- Henrik Sylow

DVD Menus

Screen Captures

subtitle sample (English only)
Captures resized to 800px from 1016px

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP vs. Electric Parc - Region 2- PAL BOTTOM

directed by Lars von Trier
Denmark 1988

Having spend the last year, and their stipendiary, doing nothing much but drinking and eating, Lars and Niels now have to deliver a final script for their film within a week. The disc is empty and they have no real idea what the story was about, not to mention that they didn’t liked it to begin with. So in order to come up with something, they embark on a fools quest to create something completely original over the next couple of days.

Rather than being based on an idea, the film was based on a bet between Lars von Trier and filmconsultant Claes Kastholm Hansen, who also plays himself in the film, whether or not von Trier could make a feature film for less than Dkr 1 million ($150,000).

The result became “Epidemic”, where Lars von Trier directly attacks the Danish film institution and the ways films are made in Denmark. To him, no films are made neither from any true original idea, nor for the sake of making money, but rather to support otherwise unemployed film personal.

Putting himself in the line of fire, showing everyone, that even an idiot like him can make a film, he openly mocks the very process of filmmaking, ending with a 12 page half assed script, told thru a person why is hypnotised to experience the story, ending in utter disaster.

Nevertheless, “Epidemic” is the first true von Trier film, cynical as hell, extremely provocative and utterly genial.

Henrik Sylow

Theatrical Release: February 1988 (Fantasporto Film Festival)

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Electric Parc (The Lars von Trier Collection - 4 disc H) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the Review!

Distribution	Electric Parc Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:41:47 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.63:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.40 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English
Subtitles	Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, English, German, French, Dutch and None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Electric Parc Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.63:1 Edition Details: • Audio commentary by Lars von Trier and Niels Vørsel • Anecdotes from 'Epidemic' (17:08/ 4:3) • Trailer (0:50 / 16x9) • Easter Egg: Befrielsesbilleder (52:06 / 4:3) DVD Release Date: Digipack Box Chapters 13

Comments

Epidemic
An audio commentary by Lars von Trier and writer Niels Vørsel. Again a very relaxed commentary, where they talk about the especially the production. In English.

The history of the film and the production is portraited thru "Anecdotes from Epidemic", a for his DVD release made documentary. As the others anecdotes, it adds alot of background and commentary.

Lars von Triers graduation film "Befrielsesbilleder" ("Images of a relief") is added as an Easter egg. It is very much the basis of what later would become "Europa". Click the Alka Seltzer image on the right of the Extras menu to access.

- Henrik Sylow

DVD Menus

Screen Captures

subtitle sample (English only)
Captures resized to 800px from 1016px

(aka "Zentropa" )

directed by Lars von Trier
Denmark 1991

“Europa”, later renamed “Zentropa”, tells the story of a young naïve American, who comes to Germany after the war, to help rebuild the country, but ends up as a conductor in a sleeping wagon, and is slowly drawn into the shame and guilt of the nation.

Lars von Trier’s first masterpiece, one of the most visually innovative and beautifully films ever made, the film only received three prices at Cannes, Best Artistic Contribution, Grand Prix du Technique and Grand Prix de Jury, but not the Palme d’Or, which he so desperately wanted, that he, when receiving his award, gave the finger to the jury.

As time has passed, one can view Leopold as von Trier and Germany as the European film. As Leopold, von Trier was a very confused and very angry person, convinced of his own infallibility and genius, attempting to recreate the great European film, but ending up, in his own eyes, being insignificant. That Bergman had called him a genius, meant little to von Trier. He demanded recognition.

In retrospect, “Europa” is a flawed film, where von Trier tries too hard. Attempting to reinvent cinema and create a new artform, the story is only a supporting player to the grandiose images. It would take Prozac and some soul searching, before he found the inspiration and the joy for film again with “Breaking the Waves”. But grandiose it is, and it will forever be a landmark film of von Trier.

Henrik Sylow

Theatrical Release: May 12, 1991 (Cannes Film Festival)

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Electric Parc (The Lars von Trier Collection - 4 disc H) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the artan and Electric Parc and Gregory Meshman for the Filmax!

Distribution	Electric Parc Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:47:23 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.81 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English, 2.0 Dolby Digital German (dub)
Subtitles	Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, English, German, French, Dutch and None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Electric Parc Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Audio commentary by Lars von Trier, Jean-Marc Barr and Udo Kier • Audio commentary by Lars von Trier and Peter Aalbæk Jensen • The making of 'Europa' (38:58 / 4:3) • Anecdotes from 'Europa' (20:36 / 4:3) • Trailer (2:35 / 16x9) DVD Release Date: Digipack Box Chapters 13

Comments

Europa
The first audio commentary is by Lars von Trier and producer Peter Aalbæk, once again a very relaxed, very casual commentary, where they comment the film, talk about actors, scenes and so on. In Danish, but subtitled in available languages.

The second audio commentary is by Lars von Trier and actors Udo Kier and Jean-Marc Barr. Sadly, this commentary is a complete waste of time. Not only does it have very long pauses, but they spend most of the time laughing at their own jokes or just laughing, asking Lars what this or that actors name is, or adding non-relevant anecdotes as, "This is where I cut my finger.", or "This guy was great." One thing is that Lars is notorious for making very casual commentaries, but this one should probably not have been on the DVD.

There are two documentaries added. The first was made for French television in 1991, taking us behind the scenes, showing actual production, then the later result in the film. The second is once again one of the specially for this DVD made "Anecdotes", where actors and production crew come with great anecdotes about the production.

No Easter egg on this DVD.

- Henrik Sylow

DVD Menus

Screen Captures

subtitle sample (English only)
Captures resized to 800px from 1016px

(Tartan and Electric Parc The Lars von Trier Collection - 4 disc - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Filmax - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

(Tartan and Electric Parc The Lars von Trier Collection - 4 disc - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Filmax - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

(Tartan and Electric Parc The Lars von Trier Collection - 4 disc - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Filmax - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

Distribution	Electric Parc Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	4:39:02 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 3.44 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital English and Danish
Subtitles	Danish, English, French, German, Dutch and None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Electric Parc Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - Edition Details: • Documentaries (3:41:22) • - A conversation with Lars von Trier (43:48 / 4:3) • - Trier's Element (43:54 / 4:3) • - Portrait of Lars von Trier (31:59 / 4:3) • - One day with Peter (15:00 / 4:3) • - Im Laboratorium des Doktors von Trier (1:04:50 / 4:3) • - Lars von Trier anecdotes (16:51 / 4:3) • Interviews (46:46) • - Europa - The Faecal Location (10:13 / 4:3) • - Tom Elling: Storyboarding 'Element of Crime' (11:05 / 4:3) • - Joachim Holbek: The emotional music script for 'Europa' (11:56 / 4:3) • - Henning Bendtsen: From Dreyer to von Trier (13:32 / 16x9) • Trailers (15:34) • - Trailers to films by Lars von Trier (11:52 / 4:3) • - 'Europa' promo (3:42 / 4:3) • 16 page booklet: Introduction to Lars von Trier and the Europa trilogy by Peter Schepelern

Comments

Hypnotic Features
Almost five hours of extras are to be found on this DVD. The hypnotic features are divided into three categories: Documentaries, Interviews and Trailers.

The Documentaries begins with "Trier's Element", made by Danmarks Radio in 1991, where von Trier in details talks about being a director, what film means to him, what he wants and demands of film, and comments on "Europa" and Cannes, followed by "Portrait of Lars von Trier", made by the other Danish television channel, TV2, which also has Lars talking about making film, but is a portrait, covering his early work, his commercials and up to "Europa". In Danish, but subtitled in available languages.

"A day with Peter" was made by French television in 2004, and is a background portrait of producer Peter Aalbæk. In English.

A real gem is the German documentary, made by ZDF in 1998, "Im Laboratorium des Doktors von Trier". It centres around "The Idiots", but spends a lot of time discussing the visual components of von Triers mise-en-scene, having von Trier talking about the two directors who influenced him the most, Dreyer and Tarkovsky. This is one of the best portraits ever made about von Trier. In German and English. Subtitled in available languages.

Finally an anecdote about von Trier himself, where people talk and reflect on von Trier, how he really is as a person, how he likes to appear, the background of Zentropa (the company) and so forth.

The Interviews begin with a 45 minute interview, made especially for this DVD, where Bo Green Jensen asks Lars von Trier a range of questions towards each film of the trilogy, like about the © in "Epidemic" or about the use of colour in "The Element of Crime".

Its followed by "Europa - the focal location", where mainly Tomas Gislason talks about the shooting of "Europa", with lots of private off set recordings.

The last three interviews are of technical nature. Cinematographer Tom Elling talks about storyboarding and shooting "The Element of Crime", composer Joachim Holbek talks about the score of "Europa", and finally maestro Henning Bendtsen talks about cinematography and the differences between Dreyer and von Trier.

The hypnotic features are concluded with trailers of the films of von Trier and a rare promo for "Europa".

- Henrik Sylow

Bonus Disc

DVD Menus

Screen Captures

subtitle sample (English only)
Captures in 768 px native resolution