The Element of Crime (1984)

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104 min - Crime | Drama | Thriller - 14 May 1984 (Denmark)

6.8

Ratings: 6.8/10 from 4,438 users
Reviews: 36 user | 45 critic

A cop in a dystopian Europe investigates a serial killings suspect using controversial methods written by his now disgraced former mentor.

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11 wins & 3 nominations See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
	Michael Elphick	...	Fisher
	Esmond Knight	...	Osborne
	Me Me Lai	...	Kim (as Meme Lai)
	Jerold Wells	...	Kramer
	Ahmed El Shenawi	...	Therapist
	Astrid Henning-Jensen	...	House Keeper
	János Herskó	...	Coroner (as Janos Hersko)
	Stig Larsson	...	Coroner's Assistant
	Harry Harper	...	Portier 1
	Roman Moszkowicz	...	Portier 2
	Lars von Trier	...	Schmuck of Ages (as Lars Von Trier)
	Frederik Casby	...	White Policeman
	Duke Addabayo	...	Black Policeman
	Jon Bang Carlsen	...	Angry Policeman (as Jon Bang-Carlsen)
	Leif Magnusson	...	Hotel Guest

Full cast and crew »

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Storyline

Fisher, an ex-cop, returns to his old beat somewhere in northern Europe after a thirteen-year hiatus in Cairo. His former mentor and role model, author of a treatise called "The Element of Crime", asks him to solve a series of murders involving lottery ticket sellers. Guided by the theories put forth in the book, Fischer retraces the steps of a suspect, Harry Grey, as recorded in a three-year-old police surveillance report. Written by Eddi Sommer <eddi@gmd.de>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Denmark

Language:

English | Arabic

Release Date:

14 May 1984 (Denmark) See more »

Also Known As:

El elemento del crimen See more »

Filming Locations:

Det Danske Filmstudie, Lyngby, Sjælland, Denmark

Company Credits

Production Co:

Det Danske Filminstitut, Per Holst Filmproduktion See more »

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (tinted) | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film in Lars von Trier's 'Europa' trilogy which illuminates the traumas of Europe in the future. The two other parts are Epidemic and Europa. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Therapist: [to Fisher] Fantasy is OK, but my job to keep you on the right track. We are after the facts. You seem to return to Cairo and me whenever you have a problem. Two months ago you left Cairo, your wife, everything for a police job in Europe. Now you are back haunted by headaches. If you want me to help you get rid of these headaches, we must go back two months in the time. Back to where it all started. All I know... Europe has become an obsession for you.
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Connections

Featured in Ennenstadt Europa - Om Lars von Trier og 'Forbrydelsens element' (1984) See more »

Soundtracks

"Der Letzte Tourist in Europa"
By Mogens Dam, Henrik Blichmann
Translated by Waltraut Andersen
Sung by Sonja Kehler See more »

The Element of Crime (1984)
Forbrydelsens element (original title)

Director:

Writers:

Stars: