I actually have some great news that I completely forgot to write about at Cannes.
Last week, I met a Euro-based producer who confirmed my previous report that Lars Von Trier is working on a new film project. His lips were otherwise sealed when it came to details about the project. Regardless, this is more than enough to celebrate, for now. I’m told that the script is ready and that, if we’re lucky, Von Trier will set out to shoot the film later this year.
Last we heard from Von Trier, he was looking for a “girlfriend/muse” on Instagram. Then, a week later, he got into trouble for posting “Russia Lives matter also!” in regards to the War in Ukraine. I don’t think he’s posted anything on IG since. Maybe social media isn’t the best place for Von Trier. Where he should be is behind the camera, that’s why we love him.
In the fall of 2022, Von Trier announced that he’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 66. It was shattering news. He’s one of the great filmmakers of the last 30 or so years, definitely one of the most influential. With that, he also announced that he was “taking a break” from directing.
Last August, Von Trier had stated that “with any luck I should still have a few decent movies left in me”. He hasn’t directed a film since 2018’s “The House That Jack Built,” an unfairly maligned 3-hour dark comedy about the most despicable serial killer ever put on film, played by Matt Dillon. It was provocative, disgusting, fearless, trolling — Von Trier’s best traits.
Von Trier established himself as one of the great directiors of world cinema, thanks to films such as “Breaking the Waves,” “Melancholia,” “Dancer in the Dark” and “Dogville.” The third season of his ‘Kingdom’ series premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2022.
I’m seeing plenty of “worst of the year” mentions for “Ice Cream Man,” which doesn’t surprise me one bit. Roth has never been a critical darling and has only been more burdened by that with each passing film.