Direktøren for det hele (2006)

Director:

Lars von Trier

Writer:

Lars von Trier (writer)

Release Date:

8 December 2006 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

An IT company hires an actor (Jens Albinus) to serve as the company's president in order to help the business get sold to a cranky Icelander (Fridrik Thor Fridriksson).

Plot Keywords:

Suit | Sex | Business Presentation | Anal Sex | Bathroom

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Jens Albinus	...	Direktøren for det hele / Kristoffer / Svend E
Peter Gantzler	...	Ravn
Friðrik Þór Friðriksson	...	Finnur (as Fridrik Thor Fridriksson)
Benedikt Erlingsson	...	Tolk
Iben Hjejle	...	Lise
Henrik Prip	...	Nalle
Mia Lyhne	...	Heidi A.
Casper Christensen	...	Gorm
Louise Mieritz	...	Mette
Jean-Marc Barr	...	Spencer
Sofie Gråbøl	...	Kisser
Anders Hove	...	Jokumsen

Also Known As:

Direktören för det hele (Sweden)
Direktør, Le (France)
Grande capo, Il (Italy)
The Boss of It All (International: English title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Denmark | Sweden | Iceland | Italy | France | Norway | Finland | Germany

Language:

Danish | Icelandic | English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Italy:VM14 (re-rating) | Netherlands:6 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Italy:T (original rating) | Brazil:16 | Singapore:M18 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | USA:Not Rated

Company:

Zentropa Productions

Trivia:

A number of visual elements were hidden in the danish distribution of this film. These visual elements, called "Lookeys", were part of a contest to find them all. The first finder was to get a price and a role as an extra in an upcoming film.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Udlændingene for det hele (2007) (V)

A superb comedy from the camera of Lars Von Trier

The Boss of it All, Lars Von Trier's latest film to be released in the UK, is a surprisingly effective comedy, in which the director cleverly skewers the slippery hierarchy and buck-passing in business culture. The film is largely set in the offices of a Danish IT firm managed by one Ravn (Peter Gantzler), who supposedly reports to a never-before-seen superior. Ravn is actually at the top of the command chain, but has invented another level in the company hierarchy so that he can credit unpopular decisions to 'the boss of it all.'

When Ravn decides to sell the firm to an Icelandic competitor, he needs the boss to put in an appearance, and consequently hires an actor, Kristoffer (Jens Albinus), to play the part. Complications ensue as Kristoffer inherits the ill will and misunderstanding generated by Ravn under the boss's guise. Kristoffer's encounters with 'the six', the original employees used by Ravn to start up the firm, are both painful and hilarious to watch, as the bewildered actor muddles through love affairs, ducks out of punch-ups and squirms through boardroom meetings in which he has as little clue as we do about what the business does.

Ravn and Kristoffer's meetings outside the office give rise to some very funny set pieces outside of the office (including some superb visual gags at the zoo). Ravn's scheming personality is increasingly exposed and Kristoffer grows increasingly confident in his acting. This is a film where the story adds layer upon layer to the comedy: it gets funnier and funnier as the plot thickens. The finale, where Kristoffer wrestles with Ravn, 'the six', the Icelandic magnate and his interpreter, and even himself, is the film's glorious high point, culminating in one moment of outstanding absurdity.

Roughly edited and devoid of musical backing, this is both funny and thought-provoking cinema. That Von Trier interrupts on occasion to remind us we are just watching a story is thus puzzling and unnecessary. This remains however a minor quibble with an excellent film.