Lars von Trier has spent his entire career courting controversy, while on the personal front, he’s battled addiction and other demons. That combination of pursuing an undistilled artistic vision coupled with wrangling off-screen issues can no doubt be mentally, emotionally, and physically wearying, and it sounds like von Trier is considering stepping away from the camera following his upcoming serial-killer pic, “The House That Jack Built.”
Speaking at a press conference for the movie this week, where numerous reports surfaced of von Trier being visibly nervous and actually shaking during the event, the director admitted he might not have the stamina to make another movie.
“I feel like sh*t,” von Trier admitted. “I have so much anxiety. I think I’m getting too old for this. Just to work on the set and rush around with some actors, even though they are very sweet, it is a challenge of dimensions. I don’t think I can make any more films after this one.”
Of course, we’ve heard the retirement talk from actors and filmmakers before, only for them stay in the game, so we’ll see how it all goes for von Trier. It could turn out that he’d rather be making a movie than sitting around at home.
“The House That Jack Built,” starring Matt Dillon, Riley Keough, Sofie Gråbøl, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman, and Siobhan Fallon Hogan, is now filming, and is already being rumored for Cannes next year. [Deadline]