Ah, Lars von Trier, everybody's favorite cinematic asshole. Or, at least, my favorite cinematic asshole.
The latest project from the man who inserted a 'von' into his own name because it made him sound more important -- no, I'm not making that up -- has been a somewhat troubled production, one that started as an openly acknowledged bio-pic and has become something a little bit different. Maybe.
Titled Erik Nietzsche, The Early Years the film is a comedy-drama about a young man accepted into the Danish National Film School in the 1970's where he is confronted by the absurdity of art and is generally misunderstood. Poor Erik. Though von Trier has never been attached to direct the project in the early going it was openly stated that he was writing the script, which would be based upon his own experiences. It was to be an autobiographical comedy. Now? Well, original director Lone Schefig (Italian For Beginners, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself) dropped out to make a different film and was replaced by first timer Jacob Thuesen and the script is now credited to -- you guessed it -- Erik Nietzsche. Ah, Lars ... always entertaining.
Anyway ... the first still from the film has turned up on the DFI website and it's looking good, very evocative of the time period. You can find a larger version and a detailed synopsis here.
