Review of The Element of Crime

I am an ardent fan of Lars von Trier, so my review my be perhaps slightly biased. A detective returns to Europe from abroad, yet it is a wasteland -- dark, dreary, crime-ridden, and backwards. The lighting, most of all, steals the show. It sets the mood, experience, and the interactions of the characters. It leaves the viewer engrossed. The characters are well developed and the part played by Michael Elphick provides an almost haunting experience through his voice. Overall, the first half is much more captivating than the latter half. The film, if one is not full acquainted with the style of the director, can seem to be endless. As for the Europa trilogy, of this film is a part -- this would be the second best. Europa (1991) is much better in style, while Epidemic (1987) is best not to be watched at all. I would rate this as a 7/10.