Europa (aka Zentropa) (DVD)

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Von Sydow returns periodically for another induction session, just to make sure Leo and the audience are still firmly held in the movie´s trance, in Von Trier´s trance. Von Sydow´s creepy-soothing voice both fills in the gaps and creates them: just close your eyes and it is months later. You jump around in time and space and logic but you don´t care why. You are in Europa. You are in a dream. You want to wake up… but it is not possible.

VIDEO

The film is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The transfer is difficult to evaluate (and to compose, no doubt) because of the multiple techniques used in the film. Nothing stands out as problematic, however, and both image clarity and contrast are sharp.

AUDIO

The DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0. Optional English subtitles support the English and German audio.

EXTRAS

The two-disc edition is one of Criterion´s more heavily loaded discs in a while.

Disc One features a commentary track by Lars von Trier and his long-time producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen. The disc also includes a video featurette, "The Making of Europa" (1991, 39 min.) It´s a mediocre on-set feature combining interviews with movie clips.

Disc Two offers the following:

"Trier´s Element" (1991, 43 min.) is another featurette covering the making of "Europa" as well as footage from its Cannes premiere though it oddly leaves out any reference to Von Trier´s temper tantrum at not receiving the top prize. He famously thanked "the midget" (jury chair Roman Polanski) for his Jury Prize. This feature also shows clips from "The Element of Crime" and "Epidemic."

"Anecdotes from ´Europa´" (20 min.) is yet another featurette covering the production of the film. This time the focus is on interviews Jean-Marc Barr, Peter Albæk Jensen, historian Peter Schepelern and other crew members. Unlike the other production featurettes, this was shot more recently and the subjects are reflecting back on their time on the film.

Cinematographer Henning Bendtsen discusses his work on Carl Dreyer´s final films and his work with Von Trier in the appropriately if provocatively titled "From Dreyer to Von Trier" (13 min.)

In "The Emotional Movie Script," composer Joachim Holbek discusses his work on the score for "Europa" (12 min.)

"Lars von Trier – Anecdotes" (17 min) gives several of the director´s collaborators the opportunity to talk about their taskmaster.

In a 2005 interview (44 min.), Von Trier discusses the "Europa" trilogy with Danish journalist Bo Green.

"Europa: The Faecal Location" is about as appealing as its title suggest. Never before seen video footage shot on location at a Polish hotel takes us through some toilet games the bored crew used to play. You know what? Never mind. By the count of 10, you will have forgotten you ever read this paragraph.

The insert booklet features an essay by critic Howard Hampton.

FILM VALUE

"Europa" strives to cast a spell over the viewer and succeeds. The highly stylized film keeps viewers at an emotional distance, but it establishes a consistent mood and a rhythm as steady as the click-clack of a train rolling along the track. I greatly prefer Von Trier´s later films starting with "Breaking the Waves" (1995), but "Europa" is the best of his earlier work. It´s the bold work of a master craftsman who isn´t afraid to show off and let the world know just how great he is.

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