Provocateur and persona non grata, Lars von Trier has always been a bit of a loose cannon around the media. Spouting endless amounts of quotable sound bites, he often makes headlines for what he says over what he films. Nonetheless, he is the master of the bleak and unflinching, an unrivaled talent behind the camera, serving up the stuff of nightmares, minus the monsters and ax wielding killers. Depression, madness, obsession, the loss of a child—von Trier’s brand of horror dives into the cruelties that unnerve for how close to home they hit. Now, a new Cinemasters supercut has arrived, exploring hopelessness at the brink of oblivion.
It wasn’t long ago that von Trier sobered up and claimed he had no more movies to make. And while von Trier’s health and sobriety are of the utmost importance, the collective cinephile world held its breath hoping he could find it in himself to keep making films. Relief came in April when it was announced that von Trier—like so many auteurs today—was moving to the small screen. “The House That Jack Built” is set to be an 8-part mini series with an international cast that combines what was thought to be several film scripts von Trier was working on. Hopes are high for his new series, following after the delicious and twisted "The Kingdom."
READ MORE: The Films Of Lars Von Trier: A Retrospective
The supercut packs together stirring and restless scenes from throughout von Trier’s extensive career, from “Epidemic” and “Europa” to “Melancholia” and “Nymphomaniac: Vol 1 & 2.” While the dark and depraved whirl together seamlessly from film to film, what stands out most are the passive, quiet shots—the moments of deep reflection—when von Trier dares us to look away. The themes are abound, but the beauty in the bleak takes the cake. The supercut features music by Marilyn Manson and von Trier regular Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Watch it below and let us know if it lives up to the legend himself.
