Who is Lars von Trier? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Lars Trier

Age: 68 Years, 68 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Bente Frøge (m. 1997), Cæcilia Holbek Trier (m. 1987–1996)

father: Ulf Trier

mother: Inger Trier

children: Agnes Trier, Benjamin Trier, Ludvig Trier, Selma Trier

Born Country: Denmark

Directors Screenwriters

Height: 5'7" (170 cm), 5'7" Males

Notable Alumni: National Film School Of Denmark

Ancestry: German Danish

Founder/Co-Founder: Zentropa

More Facts

education: University Of Copenhagen, National Film School Of Denmark

Recommended For You

1

Is Lars von Trier still making movies?

Yes, Lars von Trier is still actively making movies. He most recently directed "The Kingdom: Exodus" in 2022.
2

What is Lars von Trier known for?

Lars von Trier is known for being a provocative and controversial Danish film director, with a unique filmmaking style that often pushes boundaries and challenges viewers.
3

Which Lars von Trier film caused controversy at the Cannes Film Festival?

Lars von Trier's film "Antichrist" caused controversy at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009 due to its graphic and explicit content, leading to mixed reactions from audiences and critics.
4

Is Lars von Trier's work influenced by any specific film movements?

Lars von Trier's work is often associated with the Dogme 95 movement, a filmmaking manifesto he co-founded that emphasized naturalistic techniques and storytelling without artificial effects.
5

Has Lars von Trier ever been banned from a film festival?

Yes, Lars von Trier was banned from the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 after making controversial remarks during a press conference about sympathizing with Hitler.

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Childhood & Early Life

Lars von Trier was born on 30 April 1956, in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, to Fritz Michael Hartmann and Inger Høst. Later on, his mother married Ulf Triet and Lars adopted the surname of his stepfather. His biological father was the head of Ministry of Social Affairs in Denmark.

The young Trier grew up to be fearless, left-wing, neurotic, and a movie buff. Trier studied film theory and film direction from University of Copenhagen and National School of Denmark, respectively. While studying, he made two short films and won ‘Best School Film Awards’ at Munich International Festival of Film Schools.

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Career

Lars von Trier is known for his exquisitely different style of film-making. He began his journey of directing movies during his college years. But the movie that got him recognition was ‘The Element of Crime’ which was a psychological drama and first in the instalment of ‘Europa’ trilogy.

‘The Element of Crime’ was released in 1984 and helped him won more than 10 awards and a prestigious nomination at the Cannes Film Festival. Later, Trier directed ‘Epidemic’ (1987) and ‘Europa’ (1991), thus completing the Europa trilogy.

Trier along with his producer friend, Peter Aalbaek started a Danish film company, Zentropa Entertainment, in 1992. Apart from Trier’s own movies, the company has also produced movies of other directors as well as several television series.

In 1996, Trier wrote and directed ‘Breaking the Waves’ a story about an unconventional couple who breaks the stereotype of marriage. The plot of the movie revolves around a woman, who is asked by her husband to have intimate relations with other men, when he is left immobilized after an accident.

‘Breaking the Waves’ was his first film in the ‘Golden Heart’ trilogy. The other two movies of the trilogy are ‘The Idiots’ (1998) and ‘Dancer in the Dark’ (2000).

In 2009, Trier made ‘Antichrist’, which was the first of the depression trilogy. Other movies of the trilogy include ‘Melancholia’ (2011) and ‘Nymphomaniac’ (2013). The films were about different characters who suffer from depression and grief. It is believed that the films represented the time Trier himself was going through depression.

In 2011 Lars landed into trouble because of an interview he gave to a journalist. When ‘Melancholia’ was premiered at Cannes, a journalist questioned him about his German roots. Since Trier had recently discovered that his father wasn’t a Jew, he jokingly commented that he sympathized with Hitler. This caused a stir in the media and festival decided to ban him for one year. After constant apologies from the director and also his actors the festival lifted the ban and his films were welcomed once again.

In December 2013, Trier made a four-hour film ‘Nymphomaniac,’ which was deemed as a poor adult film. The film was originally a five-and-a-half-hour film but due to its explicit content it was cut short to four hour. The movie was made into two volumes in Britain and Australia and was released. An uncensored version of the first volume was premiered at Berlin Film Festival in 2014.

Currently, Lars von Trier is working on a movie ‘The House That Jack Build’. The movie is about a serial killer and portrays the murderer’s point of view.

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Major Works

Lars von Trier is known for his every single movie which has broken all the stereotypes and won him many awards. But with ‘Breaking the Wave’ he presented an unusual story to the world. The movie gave a strong message to its audience about the number of sorrows and sacrifices one has to endure in love. ‘Breaking The Wave’ is considered to be the most acclaimed film of Lars von Trier. The film won him more than 20 awards and it collected $4 million at box office in US.

Awards & Achievements

Trier's movie 'Europa' won the Prix du Jury at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival.

In 1996, 'Breaking the Waves' won the Crtics Award at European Film Awards. The movie also won the Cesar Award for Best Foreign Film, in 1997.

In 2000, his film 'Dancer in The Dark' won the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

In 2011, 'Melancholia' won the Best Film award at European Film Awards.

Apart from this, the list of his awards is long which includes several international awards and also seven Academy Award nominations.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1989, on her deathbed, Trier’s mother revealed to her son that his biological father was Fritz Michael Hartmann who was German-speaking, Roman Catholic. Till then Trier considered Ulf Trier to be his real father.

Trier had been married twice. His first marriage was to Cæcilia Holbek from 1987 to 1995 and his second marriage was to Bente Frøge from 1997 to 2015. Both the marriages ended in a divorce. He has four children, namely, Benjamin Trier, Ludvig Trier, Selma Trier and Agnes Trier.

Like many artists, Lars von Trier too suffers from depression due to which he finds it difficult to focus on his work.

Facts About Lars von Trier

Lars von Trier is known for his unique filmmaking style, often incorporating experimental techniques such as jump cuts, handheld camera work, and unconventional narrative structures in his movies.

Despite his reputation for controversial statements and provocative behavior, von Trier is also highly regarded for his talent as a filmmaker, having won numerous awards at prestigious film festivals around the world.

In addition to his work in film, von Trier is also a skilled painter and has exhibited his artwork in galleries and museums.

Von Trier is known for creating complex and multi-dimensional female characters in his films, challenging traditional gender stereotypes and exploring the complexities of human relationships.

Despite his sometimes confrontational personality, von Trier has also been praised for his willingness to push boundaries and challenge audiences, sparking important discussions about art, society, and the human experience.

Lars von Trier Biography

You wanted to know

Is Lars von Trier still making movies?

What is Lars von Trier known for?

Which Lars von Trier film caused controversy at the Cannes Film Festival?

Is Lars von Trier's work influenced by any specific film movements?

Has Lars von Trier ever been banned from a film festival?