Europa (1992)

Opening with a hypnotizing image of rolling train tracks and a somber voice-over by Max Von Sydow, ZENTROPA unfolds calculatedly and ambiguously. Von Trier employs a series of ingenious technical tricks, using rear projection as well as cutting between color and black-and-white, in order to give his film a dazzling visual presentation. The result is a mysterious thriller that will beg for a second viewing once the final credits have rolled.


Plot Summary

ZENTROPA is an alluring film that follows a German-American pacifist as he travels to Germany to help the country rebuild. Working on the railway Zentropa, he becomes involved with the daughter of the railway owner, who lures him into becoming a pawn in a pro-Nazi terrorist scheme. Lars von Trier's stylish thriller features hypnotic narration by the legendary Max von Sydow and is filmed with a variety of inventive visual techniques, resulting in another truly original motion picture.