Lars von Trier: Antichrist

Not one to shy away from controversy, Lars von Trier is a director who likes to cause trouble. His latest film, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe, has already been censored in several countries due its strong sexual and violent content, but has been passed uncut in the UK. We sat down with the enfant terrible to talk controversy, Cannes and, er, pubic hair...

LOVEFiLM: Where did the idea for Antichrist stem from?

Lars von Trier: I concluded very early on in life that nature and life could not be a creation of the God, because the idea of it is so evil, so maybe that’s where it comes from. Maybe it also comes from the fact that I’ve had Antichrist lying on my desk for many, many years without reading it.

LF: You’re famous for controversy, were you surprised by the reaction the film received in Cannes?

LVT: Yeah. Antichrist is a film, which some people loved and some people hated. It surprised me a little bit.

LF: The film has been released uncut by the BBFC here in the UK. What do you think that says about the British public?

LVT: It’s fantastic. This Catholic world that we were sure needed some censorship didn’t, but Germany does…

LF: What have they cut in Germany?

LVT: They have cut out all the stuff which is pornographic. We also have a very interesting problem with the Japanese. They are not allowed to show pubic hair. They don’t care about whatever else we are showing, but pubic hair they don’t want. They have a thing about the hair, it seems.

LF: Both Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe speak very fondly of their experience working with you. Charlotte in particular said she was very nervous and didn’t expect you to cast her…

LVT: The most important thing I am looking for, especially in a film like this, is that the actors see the film, the way I see it. I’m sure a lot of people could have done that role, but it was very important to discuss that it would involve nudity and certain emotions. She was a miracle for this film.

LF: The actors obviously go through a huge journey on and off screen, do you experience the same challenges and emotions?

LVT: No, not at all. The idea is that you support the actors and really be there for them. It’s a little bit like therapy, but the idea is that you should not panic unless they do.

LF: Antichrist has been described as a horror film, which seems rather unjust?

LVT: It is not really a horror film. I’m sure that if people go to see it as a horror film then they would be disappointed. If people take some sort of emotion away with them, then that’s good. Of course, it is also very interesting if people ask themselves why.

LF: You’ve put a troubled past battling depression behind you and you seem in good spirits right now. Was making Antichrist cathartic for you?

LVT: Did making the film make me feel better? Yeah. In a way. The practical work on the film made me feel better, yes. With regards to the concept of the film, I don’t think so much. Because of the mental state that I came from, it was quite hard to make the film… but I’m a little better now.

LF: Can you reflect on the film and feel positive about it?

LVT: Yes. It took some time to really like it, but yes. I was also quite happy about the reception it got in Cannes. I am quite satisfied with it.

Helen Cowley

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