The original European version had the overture played in dimmed lighting before the curtains opened on the screen. However, Fine Line Features president
Mark Ordesky informed director
Lars von Trier that such an opening was unfeasible in U.S. theaters, since most American theaters don't have curtains and have electronic projection booths overseen by inexperienced staffers. Thus, von Trier filmed a visual accompaniment to go along with the overture in the U.S. release: a collage of paintings by Per Kirkeby, the artist/husband of producer
Vibeke Windeløv.