Lars Von Trier is a Danish filmmaker, who was christened Lars Tier. “Von” was added to his name while attending Danish Film School by his peers and friends. “Von” means nobility and he retained the Von part as respect to Erich Von Stroheim and Josef Von Sternberg.
This Hollywood filmmaker started making films at the age of 11 when he was presented with a Super – 8 camera. He undertook many independent projects while still in high school. Films to him were liberation from the restrictions imposed on him by his parents. Lars Von Trier came from a naturist Jewish background. This did not include any space for feelings and fun in his household. And cinema brought to him all that he could enjoy.
In 1979, he entered into formal training for films after enrollment at the Danish Film School. In 1980 and 1982, he made “Nocture” and “Image of Liberation” respectively, while attending the film institute. Both these films won him the “Best Film” Award at the Munich Film Festival. The other film that won him the latter award was ‘The Last Detail’ that he directed in 1981. Lars Von Trier completed his graduation in 1983.
After graduating, he embarked on a full time career in filmmaking. He started work on his Europe Trilogy beginning with the “Element of Crime” in 1984. This film won him a Technical Award in Cannes Film Festival. “Epidemic” in 1987 was his next project that was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. ‘The Europe Trilogy’ was completed in 1991 with the “Europa”. This film won him a Special Jury Award called “Prix du Jury” at the Cannes Film Festival.
Some films by Lars Von Trier are:
- Breaking the Waves (1996)
- Dancer in the Dark (2000)
- Dogville (2003)
- Dogville: The Pilot
- Manderlay (2005)
- Direktoren for det hele (The Boss of It All) in 2006
- To Each His Cinema (2007)
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Apart from these, he has directed a number of TV series over the years. Currently he is working on “Washington” which is due to be released in 2009.
“Breaking the Waves” in 1996 won him the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. The screening of “The Idiots” in 1998 was attended by the director himself at the Cannes Film Festival. Palm d' Or at the Cannes Film Festival was won by Lars Von Trier for his film “Dancer in the Dark”. All three films consisted of his Golden Heart trilogy.
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