Famously shy about the press, but often going the extra mile to shock, Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier was a mischievous and frustrated soul who teased as much as he teased arthouse moviegoers. But this master provocateur is now too well-established to be considered an enfant terrible.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of director von Trier's film career, a two-week retrospective exhibition will be held at Korea's leading movie chain CJ-CGV starting July 10.
The multiplex giant has 15 arthouse screens nationwide dedicated to showing von Trier's 12 films, including his 1984 debut, “The Element of Crime,” part of his so-called “Trauma Trilogy,” which was followed by “Epidemic” and “Europa.”
The showcase will continue with “Breaking the Waves,” winner of the 1996 Cannes Jury Prize and emblematic of his Dogma 95 back-to-basics filmmaking manifesto, and “Dancer in the Dark,” which won von Trier the Palme d'Or at Cannes and Icelandic pop star Björk the Best Actress award.
The director's 'Depression Trilogy' (2009's 'Antichrist', 2011's 'Melancholia', and 2012's 'Nymphomaniac Director's Cut') will close the event.
“Lars von Trier brought new shocks with his controversial works. [..] “He completed it with a keen eye and critical spirit for modern society,” said Jeon Jeong-hyeon, head of content programming at CJ-CGV. The director was declared persona non grata at the same Cannes Film Festival after jokingly declaring himself a Nazi at a press conference for “Melancholia.”
The chain has previously hosted mini-festivals featuring other European and Asian film directors, including Wong Kar-wai, Christian Petzold, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Yasujiro Ozu and Eric Rohmer, as well as major Korean directors Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho.
A CJ-CGV spokesperson said von Trier will not attend the memorial service in person. DiversityShock jocks are known to have a fear of air travel.