Saturday, May 12, 2018

Lars von Trier Always Carries a Rope



The Telegraph [UK]
12 May 2018


By Robbie Collin, Film Critic

Back in the Nineties, a rumour went around that Lars von Trier always carried a length of rope, in case he ever had to climb out of a window.

Among the Danish filmmaker’s many neuroses, claustrophobia is a big one. It’s why he wasn’t in Cannes for the 1996 premiere of Breaking the Waves: after boarding his train at Copenhagen Central, he noticed the carriage windows were sealed shut, so promptly disembarked and went back home.

Hence the apocryphal cord, which allegedly travelled with him to even the mildest business engagements, just in case one turned into a blazing death trap. […]