The Element of Crime

The Element of Crime
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLars von Trier
Written byLars von Trier
Niels Vørsel
Produced byPer Holst
StarringMichael Elphick
Esmond Knight
Meme Lai
Jerold Wells
CinematographyTom Elling
Edited byTómas Gislason
Music byBo Holten
Production
company
Distributed byKærne Film
Release dates
  • May 1984 (1984-05) (Cannes)
  • 14 May 1984 (1984-05-14)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryDenmark
LanguagesEnglish
Arabic

The Element of Crime (Danish: Forbrydelsens Element) is a 1984 Danish experimental neo-noir crime film co-written and directed by Lars von Trier. It is the first feature film directed by von Trier and the first installment of the director's Europa trilogy — succeeded by Epidemic (1987) and Europa (1991).