# Europa trilogy

The Europa trilogy is an experimental film trilogy created by Danish writers Lars von Trier and Niels Vørsel, comprising his three feature films The Element of Crime (1984), Epidemic (1987) and Europa (1991).
The films are set in different locations of Europe, and are not a narrative trilogy but rather are linked by common themes and stylistic explorations. The overarching subject of the trilogy may be taken to be the social crises and traumas of Europe in the future. Each of the three films follows a character whose idealistic actions ultimately perpetuate the very problem he seeks to solve. Von Trier's later USA - Land of Opportunities trilogy also deals with both apparent social collapse, and the ill-effects of the interventions of idealistic individuals. Themes and creative aspects that the films share include hypnosis, a dystopian version of Europe, and experimental uses of colour. The trilogy also experiments with film noir conventions, and explores the relationship between reality and unreality.
The first and third films received largely positive reviews and garnered numerous awards including the Vulcan Award twice, while the second received mixed reviews.

## Films
### The Element of Crime

Von Trier's first film is The Element of Crime, a 1984 crime drama film with elements of dystopian and neo-noir genres set in a decaying future Europe. Michael Elphick portrays Fisher, a detective who has become an expatriate living in Cairo, undergoes hypnosis in order to recall his last case.

### Epidemic

Von Trier's second film is Epidemic, a 1987 horror film with elements of black comedy, medical thriller, and metafiction set in Copenhagen, Denmark. Von Trier and Niels Vørsel portray themselves as two of the three protagonists who write a new script about an epidemic: the outbreak of a plague-like disease. Last of the three protagonist is a doctor, Mesmer, who portrays von Trier himself, goes to the countryside to find a cure.

### Europa

Von Trier's third film is Europa (known as Zentropa to North American release due to similarities to the title of 1990 film Europa Europa), a 1991 anti-war film with elements of psychological drama and romance set in US-occupied Germany after the end of World War II. Jean-Marc Barr portrays Leopold Kessler, an idealistic German-American who takes on work as a sleeping-car conductor for the Zentropa railway network, falls in love with a femme fatale (Barbara Sukowa portrays Katharina Hartmann), and becomes embroiled in a pro-Nazi terrorist conspiracy.

## Production and release

Due to lack of collaborations in his first film, Von Trier himself and Leif Magnusson are the only two actors who appeared in all films. Among others, Von Trier's ex-wife Cecilia Holbek and frequent collaborator Udo Kier also appeared in the latter two films.
| English title | Danish title | Release date | Director | Writer | Producer | Cast |
| The Element of Crime | Forbrydelsens element | May 14, 1984 | Lars von Trier | Lars von Trier and Niels Vørsel | Per Holst | Michael Elphick as Fisher Esmond Knight as Osborne Meme Lai as Kim Jerold Wells as Kramer |
| Epidemic | Epidemic | September 11, 1987 | Lars von Trier | Lars von Trier and Niels Vørsel | Jacob Eriksen | Lars von Trier as himself Niels Vørsel as himself Udo Kier as himself Cecilia Holbek Trier (nee Holbek) as herself |
| Zentropa | Europa | May 12, 1991 | Lars von Trier | Lars von Trier and Niels Vørsel | Peter Aalbæk Jensen and Bo Christensen | Jean-Marc Barr as Leopold Kessler Barbara Sukowa as Katharina Hartmann Udo Kier as Lawrence Hartmann Ernst-Hugo Järegård as Uncle Kessler |

## Reception
### Critical response

| English title | Danish title | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
| The Element of Crime | Forbrydelsens element | 77% (13 reviews) | 66% (6 reviews) |
| Epidemic | Epidemic | 25% (8 reviews) | 66% (4 reviews) |
| Zentropa | Europa | 80% (15 reviews) | 69% (15 reviews) |

### Awards

| English title | Danish title | Accolades |
| The Element of Crime | Forbrydelsens element | Bodil Award for Best Danish Film Robert Award for Best Danish Film Vulcan Award – Technical Grand Prize Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival – Grand Prix Fantasporto Award for Best Director Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival – Main Award |
| Epidemic | Epidemic | |
| Zentropa | Europa | Bodil Award for Best Danish Film Robert Award for Best Danish Film Vulcan Award – Technical Grand Prize Cannes Film Festival – Prix du Jury Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Artistic Contribution Fantasporto Award for Best Director Ghent International Film Festival – Grand Prix Sitges Film Festival Award for Best Film Stockholm Film Festival – Bronze Horse |

## Legacy

Europa trilogy was officially collected as a part of The Criterion Collection on January 17, 2023.