The Criterion Closet
Cover of The Element of Crime
Criterion spine #80

The Element of Crime

1984Directed by Lars von TrierDenmark104 min

The Element of Crime (Danish: Forbrydelsens Element) is a 1984 Danish experimental neo-noir crime film co-written and directed by Lars von Trier. It is the first feature film directed by von Trier and the first installment of the director's Europa trilogy — succeeded by Epidemic (1987) and Europa (1991).

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