Lars von Trier

Latest Articles

By | January 01, 0001

Review: Melancholia

Who says Lars von Trier doesn't like happy endings?
Here's what we learn from Melancholia : life sucks, people are awful, we're all going to die, and good riddance. Who says Lars von Trier doesn't like happy endings?
By PETER KEOUGH | November 08, 2011

By | January 01, 0001

Reichs and wrongs on the Croisette

Cannes we all just get along?
"I beat my kids regularly. Seems to do the trick. And I deprive them of meals."
By LISA NESSELSON | May 26, 2011

By | January 01, 0001

Interview: Lone Scherfig

An Educated Lady
Born in Denmark in 1959, Lone Scherfig first gained international attention in 2000 with Italian for Beginners, a charming little film that won her the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. A couple of years later, she followed up with Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, her first English-language effort, filmed in Scotland and starring Adrian Rawlins and Shirley Henderson.
By BRETT MICHEL | November 16, 2009

By | January 01, 0001

Interview: Lars von Trier of Antichrist

The director on the redeeming qualities of Antichrist
Maybe it’s the blurring effect of the Skype technology through which I’m interviewing him as he sits worried and Buddha-like in his headquarters in Denmark (he has a phobia about airplanes, among other things), but Lars von Trier seems like an okay guy.
By PETER KEOUGH | November 02, 2009

Review: Antichrist

Lars von Trier’s screams from a marriage
Lars von Trier’s controversial freak-out is Saw VI as told by Carl Dreyer. Is that a good thing? It certainly has grabbed everybody’s attention. I’m torn between dismissing the film as gross-out juvenilia and regarding it as raw religious mythmaking.
By PETER KEOUGH | October 21, 2009

Review: Paranormal Activity

More than cheap thrills
The "normal" puts the chills in Paranormal Activity .
By Peter Keough | October 15, 2009

By | January 01, 0001

Cannes goods

Tarantino, Antichrist , and a well-lit genitalia show; why the French film festival is like no other
Quick — name a world-class film-festival administrator willing to reveal that at age 12 he was titillated by the sight of clodhopper-shod Minnie Mouse stomping on Mickey's tail in a French comic book.
By LISA NESSELSON | May 27, 2009

Seoul mates

The films of Lee Chang-dong
Korean filmmakers reinvent Hollywood genres and conventions much the way their Asian counterparts do, but my sense is that they tend to put everything in a broader context.
By PETER KEOUGH | April 29, 2008

Star power

Deneuve demystifies — and enchants
Deneuve has been in the public eye long enough to know that only damn fools reveal themselves to the public.
By CHARLES TAYLOR | August 07, 2007

Savoring slow food

At a revamped seaside resort
The surest radar trap in southern Maine is the one the Scarborough police have set up where Route 207 enters Prouts Neck.
By BRIAN DUFF | August 01, 2007

The Boss of It All

Since when do we believe Lars von Trier?
The Boss of It All reflects on the mysteries of identity, responsibility, globalization, and Gambini’s æsthetics of theater.
By PETER KEOUGH | May 30, 2007

The girls of summer

The season for blockbusters, sequels, and . . . great roles for women?
It’s summer, so no one’s surprised at the onslaught of sequels, adaptations, or even movies based on toys. But films with Oscar-caliber women’s roles?
By PETER KEOUGH | May 18, 2007

Road rules

Andrea Arnold takes on Lars von Trier
Dogme is out, done for, as are Lars von Trier’s sly strictures on making Dogme films: only natural lighting, the actors must wear their real clothes, etc.
By GERALD PEARY | May 08, 2007

Dots and dashes

The career of David Morse
Just about any list of the greatest character actors working today would include David Morse. And with good cause.
By RYAN STEWART | June 22, 2006

Seven heaven

Readers speak out on the best directors
Who are the world’s greatest living narrative filmmakers, what I call the Magnificent Seven?
By GERALD PEARY | April 28, 2006

Manderlay

Von Trier's trilogy continues, sans Nicole Kidman.
Lars von Trier’s Manderlay has something to offend everyone: blacks, whites, conservatives, liberals, and those who, like myself, found Dogville a bold if flawed experiment.
By PETER KEOUGH | February 16, 2006

All-American?

Lars von Trier at Cannes 2005
Flash back to Cannes, 2003, the press conference for Dogville . Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier leaned toward his superstar lead, Nicole Kidman, and put her on the spot before the international press.
By GERALD PEARY | February 15, 2006

Politics as usual?

Or will Hollywood cover the issues in 2006?
Conspiracy, corruption, catastrophe — politics and world events sure can be exciting. Even the mainstream news is taking an interest.
By PETER KEOUGH | January 26, 2006