Conceptualization of the Idea of “Sacrifice” in Lars von Trier’s Films

Abstract

One of the most provocative directors of our time, Lars von Trier, often rethinks established concepts in his works. In his films an important role is played by religious concepts, the representation of which changed along with the change of the director's religious views. The transcendental and religious components of Lars von Trier's films often become the subject of research, but up till now there has been no specific study tracing the evolution of the director's idea of a particular concept.
In this article the author uses the example of «Breaking the Waves» (1996), «Dogville» (2003) and «Melancholy» (2011), which reflect different periods in Lars von Trier's life and work, and analyzes the transformations of his representation of a key Christian concept of «sacrifice». The researcher has come to the conclusion that in the early period of his work, the director understood «sacrifice» in terms of traditional religious ideas as a redemptive sacrifice in the name of someone, at the same time Lars von Trier filled this concept with new meaning, elevating to the level of sacrifice something that is traditionally considered a sin.
In «Dogville», the director desacralizes this concept, suggesting ideological reasons for the «sacrifice» and focusing on its meaninglessness and even harmfulness.
Finally, in the later period of his work, Lars von Trier deconstructs the concept of «sacrifice», abandoning the idea of a redemptive sacrifice. Thus, it can be concluded that the concept of "sacrifice" in the director's work has gone all the way from being treated in terms of traditional religious beliefs to being deconstructed and completely rejected.