Lars von Trier is widely regarded as one of the most provocative, avant-garde and accomplished directors in world cinema. To get you in the mood for a tantalising weekend with some of Lars’ finest films, here are a few facts you might not have known about this ambitious Danish filmmaker.
He added the ‘von’ to his name
Born Lars Trier he later added the aristocratic ‘von’ to his name in homage to director Josef von Sternberg.
He didn’t meet his biological father until he was 33
His mother revealed to him on her deathbed that the man Lars believed to be his father was not in fact a blood-relative. After a few awkward meetings with his biological father, they both decided not to pursue any relationship.
He went through an identity crisis
In an effort to rebel against his past and to erase any connection with his stepfather, Lars converted to Catholicism and reworked his filmmaking into a style emphasising “honesty”.
He has an intense fear of flying
To avoid flying, Lars insists that virtually all of his films are shot in Denmark or Sweden, even those set in other countries. Each time his films were featured at the Cannes Film festival he drove from Denmark to France for the festival and back.
He was raised a nudist
Both of his parents were nudists and as a child Lars went on several childhood holidays to nudist camps.