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Zentropa (Europa)

7.3

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Original title

Europaaka

AKA

Zentropa

Year

1991

Running time

114 min.

Country

Denmark

Director

Lars von Trier

Screenwriter

Lars von Trier, Niels Vorsel, Tómas Gislason

Cast

Music

Joachim Holbek

Cinematography

Henning Bendtsen, Jean-Paul Meurisse, Edward Klosinski

Producer

Co-production Denmark-Spain-Sweden-France-Switzerland-Germany;

Alicéléo, Det Danske Filminstitut, Eurimages, Fund of the Council of Europe, Institut suisse du film, Nordisk Film, La Sofica Sofinergie, Gérard Mital Productions, Svenska Filminstitutet, UGC Images, Fortuna Film

Genre

Drama. War. Mystery | Psychological Drama. 1940s. Nazism. Trains / Subways. Surrealism. Cult movie

Synopsis

An American of German descent arrives in post-war Germany 1945. His uncle gets him a job on the Zentropa train line as a sleeping car conductor. The American's wish is to be neutral to the ongoing purges of loyalists by the Allied forces and do what he can to help a hurting country, but he finds himself being used by both the Americans and the influential family that owns the railroad. After falling in love with the railroad magnate's daughter, he finds that he can't remain neutral and must make some difficult choices.

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Rankings Position

Awards: 1991: Cannes Film Festival: Jury Prize (ex-aequo), Technical Grand Prize

1991: Sitges Fantastic Film Festival: Best Movie, Best Cinematography

1992: European Film Awards: Nominated for Best Actress (Barbara Sukowa)

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Critics' reviews

"A bizarre, dreamlike, surrealistic thriller, Zentropa is one of those films that is easier to admire than like (...) it is also an extremely cold, nihilistic work"

Clifford Terry: Chicago Tribune
"Zentropa seems like the work of a precocious child who's been given too many expensive toys"

Jeff Shannon: Seattle Times
"It took me two viewings of the movie to realize that a compelling story emerges when its surreal settings, harsh lighting, macabre characterizations, dreamlike images and cartoonishly stilted performances are set aside"

San Francisco Chronicle
"It's an obscure experience, partly alienating, partly enthralling; it weaves a spell that is frightening, irritating and invigorating all at once."

Hal Hinson: The Washington Post
"The film is too confusing to be successful, but too striking and visually beautiful to be ignored"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"Zentropa is above all unique in its radical take on the inherent confusion of postwar Europe, offering the viewer a glimpse like none he has had before"

Marc Savlov: Austin Chronicle
"Although the actual story of Zentropa is the stuff of an ordinary thriller, that plot is the only conventional aspect of a film that is an almost impudently flashy and knowing exercise in post-modern cinematic expressionism."

Stephen Holden: The New York Times
"Labyrintine and hypnotic, there's undoubtedly more style than substance to the film, but Von Trier manages to blind and bewilder his audience in a truly masterful manner"

William Thomas: Empire

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Ranking Lists Position

16 My Favorite Danish Movies (34)

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Zentropa (Europa)

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