Europe (film)

Movie
German title	Europe
Original title	Europe
Country of production	Denmark Sweden France Germany Switzerland
original language	English German
Publishing year	1991
length	112 minutes
Age rating	FSK 16
Rod
Director	Lars from Trier
script	Lars von Trier Niels Vørsel
production	Bo Christensen Peter Aalbæk Jensen
music	Joachim Holbek
camera	Henning Bendtsen Edward Kłosiński Jean-Paul Meurisse
cut	Hervé Schneid
occupation
Jean-Marc Barr : Leopold Kessler Barbara Sukowa : Katharina Hartmann Udo Kier : Lawrence Hartmann Ernst-Hugo Järegård : Uncle Kessler Erik Mørk : Father Jørgen Reenberg : Max Hartmann Henning Jensen : Siggy Eddie Constantine : Colonel Harris Max von Sydow : Narrator's voice Benny Poulsen : Steleman Erno Müller : Seifert Dietrich Kuhlbrodt : Commissioner Michael Phillip Simpson : Robins Holger Perfort : Mr. Ravenstein Anne Werner Thomsen : Mrs. Ravenstein Hardy Rafn : man in a dressing gown Cæcilia Holbek Trier : maid János Herskó : Jew Talila : Jewish Claus Flygare : father Jon Ledin : American soldier Baard Owe : man with paper Leif Magnusson : Doctor Magnus Lars von Trier: Jew Vera Gebuhr : warehouse assistant Else Petersen : Old assistant Ben Zimet : Old Man I. Thadee Lokcinski : Old Man II Peter Haugstrup : Piccolo
chronology
←  Predecessor Epidemic

Europa is a feature film by the Danish director Lars von Trier from 1991 . It marks the end of the so-called Europe Trilogy, which began with The Element of Crime (1984) and Epidemic (1987). The main roles are Jean-Marc Barr and Barbara Sukowa to see in larger supporting roles, among others Eddie Constantine and Udo Kier .

action

A hypnotizing voice from the off announces to the viewer via recordings of train tracks that he will shortly wake up in Europe . The voice counts to ten and proclaims, "When you have counted to ten inside, you will be in Europe".

Leopold Kessler, a young, idealistic German-American , travels to Germany, which was destroyed by World War II, in 1945 to help rebuild the country. His German uncle found him an apprenticeship as a sleeper conductor at the “Zentropa” railway company. Leopold only sees Germany from moving trains, in train stations or dormitories. While trying unsuccessfully to adapt to social rules, he witnesses the country's inner turmoil and the aftermath of its recent past. National Socialist fanatics, so-called werewolves , commit acts of terrorism.

He gets to know Katharina, the daughter of the politically burdened head of Zentropa, Max Hartmann. She invites him to dinner in her half-bombed family villa. With the help of a false testimony from an American Jew who claims he is a lifesaver, Max Hartmann receives a clean bill of health and is rehabilitated. Hartmann later committed suicide out of shame.

Leopold falls in love with Katharina and marries her, but shortly afterwards his wife disappears without a trace. A group of werewolves threaten to kill Katharina and force him to blow up his train on a strategically important railway bridge. Leopold makes the necessary preparations as ordered, but then discovers that the kidnapping was fictitious and that his wife is a member of the werewolves. Embittered by the spirit of command and submission that hit him everywhere, he decides to detonate the bomb anyway. The train explodes on the bridge as intended and crashes into a river. When Leopold sees the victim, he regrets what he did. The compartment he is in fills with water, and the voice of the hypnotist appears again, announcing his approaching death by drowning. Days later, Leopold's body was washed from the river into the sea.

background

Europa started in German cinemas on June 27, 1991.

Zentropa, the name of the railway company in the film, is identical to Lars von Trier's production company Zentropa . Zentropa was also the US distribution title of the film.

Reviews

“A straightforwardly narrated mixture of thriller and melodrama , which is based on the classic models of the genres, but with its unusual visual creative drive breaks the given boundaries. At the same time an attempt is made to use film as a means of mass suggestion. Worth seeing because of the optically sophisticated shape. "

- Lexicon of international film

Awards

Lars von Trier took part with his film in the competition of the International Film Festival in Cannes in 1991 and won the special prize of the jury , as well as the Technology Grand Prix and a prize for the best artistic contribution.

The German Film and Media Assessment FBW in Wiesbaden awarded the film the rating particularly valuable.

Web links

• Europe in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Criticism by A. Thomas in the filmzentrale

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Release certificate for Europe . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry , June 2005 (PDF; test number: 66 051 DVD).
2. ↑ ^{a b} Europe in the Lexicon of International Films .
3. ^ Europe in the Internet Movie Database .