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Lars von Trier

Directing Born Apr 30, 1956 Copenhagen, Denmark 167 credits

Biography

Lars von Trier was born Lars Trier on April 30, 1956, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is a Danish film director and screenwriter known for directing and is associated with the Dogme 95 collective, while applying various approaches to his own films. He is recognized for his female-centric parables and exploration of controversial subject matter. He began making his own films at age eleven after receiving a Super-8 camera as a gift. His first publicly released film was the experimental short The Orchid Gardener in 1977, followed seven years later by his first feature film, The Element of Crime, in 1984. By 2010, he had directed an additional ten feature films, five short films, and four television productions, accumulating 104 known credits on the platform.

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Career

Career overview

Lars von Trier is a Danish film director and screenwriter who was born Lars Trier in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 30, 1956. He began making his own films at the age of 11 after receiving a Super-8 camera as a gift. His first publicly released film was an experimental short called The Orchid Gardener, which was released in 1977. Seven years later, he released his first feature film, titled The Element of Crime, in 1984.

He is closely associated with the Dogme 95 collective, although his own films have taken a variety of different approaches. He is known for his female-centric parables and his exploration of controversial subject matter. As of 2010, his body of work includes directing a further 10 feature films, 5 short films, and 4 television productions.

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Known for

Film

The House That Jack Built

2018
Film

The House That Jack Built

2018
Film

The House That Jack Built

2018
Film

The House That Jack Built

2018
Film

Nymphomaniac: Vol. II

2013
Film

Nymphomaniac: Vol. II

2013
Film

Nymphomaniac: Vol. I

2013
Film

Nymphomaniac: Vol. I

2013
Film

Trespassing Bergman

as Self
Film

A Royal Affair

2012
Film

A Royal Affair

2012
Film

Melancholia

2011

Frequent co-stars

Jens Albinus 1 shared title
Peter Gantzler 1 shared title
Fridrik Thor Fridriksson 1 shared title
Benedikt Erlingsson 1 shared title
Iben Hjejle 1 shared title
Henrik Prip 1 shared title
Mia Lyhne 1 shared title
Casper Christensen 1 shared title
Louise Mieritz 1 shared title
Jean-Marc Barr 1 shared title

Career timeline

Being Bo Widerberg
Creation of the Kingdom of Exodus
The Idiots Who Started The PartyLars von Trier: The Burden From Donald Duck
The House That Jack Built · StoryThe House That Jack Built · DirectorThe House That Jack Built · WriterThe House That Jack Built · IdeaBergman: A Year in a Life
Plankton Salesmen
En invitation fra Lars von Trier
Arteholic
Nymphomaniac: Vol. II · DirectorNymphomaniac: Vol. II · WriterNymphomaniac: Vol. I · DirectorNymphomaniac: Vol. I · WriterColors
A Royal Affair · Executive ProducerA Royal Affair · Script SupervisorSide by Side
Melancholia · DirectorMelancholia · ScreenplayThe Story of Film: An Odyssey
Dimension · DirectorDimension · Writer… But Film Is My Mistress
Antichrist · DirectorAntichrist · Writer
Ernst-Hugo
The Early Years: Erik Nietzsche Part 1The Early Years: Erik Nietzsche Part 1 · ScreenplayFilmbyen: The New Mecca of CinemaCinema 16: European Short Films (U.S. Edition) · DirectorTo Each His Own Cinema
The Boss of It AllThe Boss of It All · WriterThe Boss of It All · DirectorCinema 16: European Short Films (European Edition) · Director
KlovnKlovn · WriterManderlay · DirectorManderlay · WriterManderlay · Camera Operator
Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital · StoryStephen King's Kingdom Hospital · Executive ProducerStephen King's Kingdom Hospital · CreatorDogville ConfessionsKingdom Hospital · Writer
Dogville · DirectorDogville · Camera OperatorDogville · WriterDogville: The Pilot · DirectorDogville: The Pilot · Writer
Wag the Dogma
Dancer in the Dark · DirectorDancer in the Dark · Camera OperatorDancer in the Dark · WriterDancer in the Dark · LyricistThe Exhibited
The CopyistDogma 95, a Serious Game?
The IdiotsThe Idiots · DirectorThe Idiots · ScreenplayThe Idiots · Director of PhotographyIronie und Gottessuche - Das Kino des Lars von Trier
Tranceformer: A Portrait of Lars von Trier
Breaking the Waves · DirectorBreaking the Waves · Writer
I Am Curious, Film
The Kingdom · DirectorThe Kingdom · WriterThe Kingdom · ScreenplayThe Kingdom · ScriptThe Kingdom · Idea
Eurotrash
Portrait of Lars von TrierEuropaEuropa · DirectorEuropa · ScreenplayEuropa · Continuity
Medea · DirectorMedea · Adaptation
EpidemicEpidemic · DirectorEpidemic · ScreenplayEpidemic · Camera OperatorEpidemic · Editor

Full filmography

  • Being Bo Widerberg (2025) as Self
  • Creation of the Kingdom of Exodus (2022) as Self / Director / Devil
  • The Idiots Who Started The Party (2020) as Sig selv
  • Lars von Trier: The Burden From Donald Duck (2020) as Lars von Trier
  • The House That Jack Built (2018) Story
  • The House That Jack Built (2018) Director
  • The House That Jack Built (2018) Writer
  • The House That Jack Built (2018) Idea
  • Bergman: A Year in a Life (2018) as Self
  • Living the Light: Robby Müller (2018) as Self
  • Plankton Salesmen (2017) as Self (archive footage)
  • En invitation fra Lars von Trier (2015)
  • Arteholic (2014) as Self
  • Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013) Director
  • Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013) Writer
  • Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013) Director
  • Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013) Writer
  • Colors (2013) as Fuck Putas Edition
  • Trespassing Bergman (2013) as Self
  • A Royal Affair (2012) Executive Producer
  • A Royal Affair (2012) Script Supervisor
  • Side by Side (2012) as Self
  • Melancholia (2011) Director
  • Melancholia (2011) Screenplay
  • The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011) as Self
  • Dimension (2010) Director
  • Dimension (2010) Writer
  • … But Film Is My Mistress (2010) as Self
  • Antichrist (2009) Director
  • Antichrist (2009) Writer
  • Ernst-Hugo (2008) as Self
  • The Early Years: Erik Nietzsche Part 1 (2007) as Narrator (voice)
  • The Early Years: Erik Nietzsche Part 1 (2007) Screenplay
  • Filmbyen: The New Mecca of Cinema (2007) as self
  • Cinema 16: European Short Films (U.S. Edition) (2007) Director
  • To Each His Own Cinema (2007) as The filmmaker (segment "Occupations")
  • To Each His Own Cinema (2007) Director
  • The Boss of It All (2006) as Narrator (uncredited)
  • The Boss of It All (2006) Writer
  • The Boss of It All (2006) Director
  • Cinema 16: European Short Films (European Edition) (2006) Director
  • Klovn (2005) as Lars von Trier
  • Klovn (2005) Writer
  • Manderlay (2005) Director
  • Manderlay (2005) Writer
  • Manderlay (2005) Camera Operator
  • Idiotic Filters (2005)
  • The Road to Manderlay (2005) as Self - director
  • Looking Back At The Idiots (2005)
  • Dear Wendy (2005) Screenplay
  • Le court des grands (2005) Director
  • Tilbageblik på Idioterne (2005) as Self - director
  • A Conversation with Lars von Trier (2005) as Interviewee
  • All About Anna (2005) Executive Producer
  • Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital (2004) Story
  • Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital (2004) Executive Producer
  • Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital (2004) Creator
  • Dogville Confessions (2004) as Self
  • Kingdom Hospital (2004) Writer
  • Visions of Europe (2004) Producer
  • The South (2004) Producer
  • Dogville (2003) Director
  • Dogville (2003) Camera Operator
  • Dogville (2003) Writer
  • Dogville: The Pilot (2003) Director
  • Dogville: The Pilot (2003) Writer
  • The Purified (2003) as Himself
  • Inside Björk (2003) as Self
  • Screaming Men (2003) Thanks
  • The Five Obstructions (2003) as Self / Obstructor (segment "The Conversations")
  • The Five Obstructions (2003) Director
  • The Five Obstructions (2003) Writer
  • The Five Obstructions (2003) Idea
  • Trier, Kidman og Cannes (2003) as Self
  • Wag the Dogma (2001)
  • Dancer in the Dark (2000) Director
  • Dancer in the Dark (2000) Camera Operator
  • Dancer in the Dark (2000) Writer
  • Dancer in the Dark (2000) Lyricist
  • The Exhibited (2000)
  • Von Trier's 100 Eyes (2000) as Self
  • FreeDogme (2000) as himself
  • Italian for Beginners (2000) Associate Producer
  • Playing the Fool (2000) as Self
  • 100 Cameras: Capturing Lars von Trier's Vision (2000)
  • 100 Cameras: Capturing Lars von Trier's Vision (2000)
  • D-Day (2000) Director
  • Kayaking On The Top Of The World (2000) Executive Producer
  • The Name of This Film Is Dogme95 (2000) as Self
  • HotMen CoolBoyz (2000) Producer
  • The Copyist (1999) as Self
  • Dogma 95, a Serious Game? (1999) as Self
  • The Idiots (1998) as Interviewer (voice) (uncredited)
  • The Idiots (1998) Director
  • The Idiots (1998) Screenplay
  • The Idiots (1998) Director of Photography
  • Ironie und Gottessuche - Das Kino des Lars von Trier (1998) as Self
  • The Humiliated (1998)
  • In Doctor von Trier's Laboratory: Back to the Magic of Cinema (1998) as Self
  • The Kingdom II (1998) as Self (uncredited)
  • The Kingdom II (1998) Director
  • The Kingdom II (1998) Screenplay
  • Lars From 1 - 10 (1998)
  • Constance (1998) Producer
  • Tranceformer: A Portrait of Lars von Trier (1997)
  • Breaking the Waves (1996) Director
  • Breaking the Waves (1996) Writer
  • I Am Curious, Film (1995) as Self
  • The Kingdom (1994) Director
  • The Kingdom (1994) Writer
  • The Kingdom (1994) Screenplay
  • The Kingdom (1994) Script
  • The Kingdom (1994) Idea
  • The Kingdom (1994) Creator
  • The Kingdom (1994) as Self (uncredited)
  • The Kingdom (1994) Director
  • The Kingdom (1994) Screenplay
  • Eurotrash (1993)
  • Portrait of Lars von Trier (1991) as Himself
  • Europa (1991) as Jew
  • Europa (1991) Director
  • Europa (1991) Screenplay
  • Europa (1991) Continuity
  • The Making of Europa (1991) as Self - Director
  • Trier's Element (1991) as Himself
  • Medea (1989) Director
  • Medea (1989) Adaptation
  • Epidemic (1987) as Self / Dr. Mesmer
  • Epidemic (1987) Director
  • Epidemic (1987) Screenplay
  • Epidemic (1987) Camera Operator
  • Epidemic (1987) Editor
  • Sauna (1986) Director
  • The Element of Crime (1984) as Schmuck of Ages
  • The Element of Crime (1984) Director
  • The Element of Crime (1984) Screenplay
  • Ennenstadt Europa – The Making of The Element of Crime (1984) as Self - Film Director
  • Images of Liberation (1982) Director
  • Images of Liberation (1982) Writer
  • Nocturne (1980) Director
  • Nocturne (1980) Writer
  • Kaptajn Klyde og hans venner vender tilbage (1980)
  • Menthe: The Benefactor (1979)
  • Menthe: The Benefactor (1979) Director
  • Menthe: The Benefactor (1979) Writer
  • The Orchid Gardener (1977) as Victor Morse
  • The Orchid Gardener (1977) Writer
  • The Orchid Gardener (1977) Director
  • A Flower (1971) Director
  • Why Try to Escape from That Which You Know You Can't Escape From? Because You Are a Coward (1970) Director
  • Why Try to Escape from That Which You Know You Can't Escape From? Because You Are a Coward (1970) Writer
  • Clandestine Summer (1969) as Lars
  • Goodbye, I'm Kurt (1969) as Børge
  • Clandestine Summer (1969) as Lars Johansen
  • Good Night, Dear (1968)
  • Good Night, Dear (1968) Director
  • Good Night, Dear (1968) Writer
  • Good Night, Dear (1968) Director of Photography
  • Good Night, Dear (1968) Editor
  • The Trip to Squash Land (1967) Director
  • Grimme Award (1964) as Self
  • After Director
  • After Writer
  • Descendant - curated by Lars von Trier
  • The Missing Films as Himself
  • Nocebo Director
  • Nocebo Writer