Danish director Lars von Trier. Biography

Today, April 30, 2026, marks the 70th anniversary of Danish director Lars von Trier, a figure without whom it is impossible to imagine European auteur cinema of the last 40 years. A provocateur, a visionary, a scandal man and a seriously ill artist, he continues to work despite Parkinson's disease. About his life path, creative method and difficult character — in the material of Izvestia.

Early years and family secrets

Lars von Trier was born on April 30, 1956 in Copenhagen. The future director grew up in a family of government employees. His mother worked in the ministry, and according to the memoirs of Trier himself, she was a "left—wing radical", and his father was a socialist. His parents instilled anti-authoritarian values in his son and encouraged his early interest in art. At the age of 11, he began shooting amateur films with a Super-8 camera.

However, the main family revelation awaited him at the age of 33. It turned out that his official father, Ulf von Trier, was not his biological father. His real father was Fritz Michael Hartmann, who worked part-time at his father-in-law's firm and had a reputation as his mother's lover. This discovery became a powerful psychological trauma that influenced all of the director's subsequent work: themes of betrayal, identity instability and the illusory reality run through all his paintings.

The first steps into cinema and a high-profile debut

Von Trier began his career in cinema at the Danish National Film School, from which he graduated in 1983. His student short films immediately attracted attention: the film "Nocturne" (1980) won a prize at the Munich Festival, and "Pictures of Liberation" (1982) won the main prize at the Munich Festival.

In 1984, the 28-year-old director released his feature-length debut, Element of Crime. This stylized noir drama, set in an apocalyptic future, instantly made him a star of European cinema. The film won the Technical Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and dozens more awards around the world. The debut, which many directors can only dream of, became just a starting point for von Trier.

The European Trilogy and the formation of style

"Element of Crime" was followed by "Epidemic" (1987) and "Europe" (1991), which formed the so-called "European trilogy". Von Trier's visual style has already fully formed in these films: blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction, painful psychologism, hypnotic, disturbing atmosphere. "Europa" won the jury prize in Cannes and finally confirmed the director in the status of one of the main innovators of world cinema.

In parallel with the full meter, von Trier created the cult television series Kingdom (1994), a surreal story set in the neurosurgery department of a Danish hospital. The series was very popular and was continued years later ("Kingdom. Exodus", 2022), which became one of the last works of the director.

"Dogma 95": the manifesto that blew up cinema

In 1995, when world cinema celebrated its centenary, von Trier, along with Thomas Winterberg and other Danish directors, committed an act of intellectual terrorism. At a conference in Paris, he scattered red leaflets in the hall — "The Vow of chastity." Dogma 95 proclaimed a return to "pure" cinema: no scenery, artificial lighting, music, special effects, or even the director's name in the credits.

According to the rules of Dogma, von Trier made only one film, Idiots (1998), a story about a commune of young people who pretend to be mentally retarded in order to gain "inner freedom." The film caused a scandal due to explicit porn scenes and still remains one of the most radical statements in the history of cinema. Despite the fact that he ignored the rules of the genre almost immediately, "Dogma 95" influenced an entire generation of filmmakers around the world.

"Heart of Gold": a women's trilogy and worldwide fame

In the late 1990s, von Trier created the trilogy "Heart of Gold", which included "Breaking the Waves" (1996), "Idiots" and "Dancing in the Dark" (2000).

"Breaking the Waves" starring Emily Watson earned him the Grand Prix of the Cannes Film Festival and an Oscar nomination. And "Dancing in the Dark" with the Icelandic singer Bjork won the Palme d'Or. Bjork was also awarded the Cannes Prize for Best Actress, although she later spoke about the difficult experience of working with the director.

The American Trilogy and the "Depression Trilogy"

In the 2000s, von Trier took up America, which he had never visited (he was pathologically afraid of flying on airplanes). "Dogville" (2003) and "Manderley" (2005) were filmed on a bare stage — the houses were marked with chalk lines on the floor. Nicole Kidman and Bryce Dallas Howard played in a void, and this void worked as a powerful metaphor for the American myth.

Years of severe depression followed. Von Trier practically dropped out of life, and when he returned, he shot the "Trilogy of Depression": "Antichrist" (2009), "Melancholia" (2011) and "Nymphomaniac" (2013). "The Antichrist" starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe became the director's most violent film — some scenes forced the audience to leave the halls. "Melancholy", in turn, showed the incredible beauty of the end of the world and became Kirsten Dunst's calling card.

Scandals and exile

Von Trier is known not only for films, but also for public scandals. The loudest one happened in Cannes in 2011. At the Melancholia press conference, he stated that he "understands Hitler" and called himself "a bit of a Nazi." The festival immediately declared him persona non grata.

He returned to Cannes only in 2018 with the film "The House that Jack Built," the story of a serial killer played by Matt Dillon. The film caused a scandal and controversy again, but the festival accepted the director back.

Personal life and recent years

Von Trier was married twice. His first wife (and long—term collaborator) is the production designer Matthews. His second marriage was to Bente, whom he married in July 2019. The director has four children.

In 2022, von Trier publicly announced his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. "I just need to get used to the fact that I'm shaking and not be ashamed of it in front of people," he said in an interview.

Despite his serious illness, von Trier continues to work. In 2022, the final season of the series "Kingdom. The exodus ." He is currently working on the film "After," which may be his last film. His 70th birthday is an occasion not only for congratulations, but also for reflection on the legacy of a man who forced viewers and colleagues to argue about cinema, cruelty, love and death.