TTLV: The groundbreaking nature of Lars von Trier's Golden Heart trilogy (Breaking the Waves, Idiots, Dancer in the Dark)

1. Student's full name: Tran Minh Hung 2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: January 18, 1979

4. Place of birth: Phu Tho

5. Decision No. 3379/2017/QD-XHNV dated December 19, 2017, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing postgraduate students.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Title of the graduation thesis: "Breaking the mold in the trilogy"Golden Heartby Lars von TrierBreaking the Waves,Idiots,Dancer in the Dark)”

8. Specialization: Theory, history, and criticism of film and television;

Code: 60210231

9. Scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Gia Lam - Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the thesis results:

Since its inception, cinema has had a history of development spanning over a hundred years, with many schools and important innovative trends in cinematic language, shaped by the development of artistic thought and advances in science and technology. The result of each innovative trend is unique cinematic products, establishing their own set of rules and techniques. In turn, these rules and techniques are then broken and surpassed by the individual creative experiments of filmmakers, in accordance with the ever-evolving laws of human art.

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, director Lars von Trier was a prominent phenomenon in Danish and world cinema as one of the pioneers of new filmmaking techniques. He also joined directors Thomas Vinterberg, Kristian Levring, and Søren Kragh-Jacobsen in initiating this movement.Dogme 95with 10 pioneering filmmaking principles aimed at breaking away from traditional filmmaking methods. Lars von Trier's trilogy (Breaking the Waves, The IdiotsandDancer in the Dark) has imprinted, on the one hand, the general principles ofDogme 95,and on the other hand, his unique creative style.

Through survey and analysis of trilogy filmsGolden Heart(Breaking the Waves, The Idiots, Dancer in the DarkIn studying Lars von Trier's work on filmmaking style, this thesis has achieved the following results:

1. Identifying non-traditional cinematic aesthetics as expressed through the set of rules ofDogme 95as the creative practice base of Lars von Trier.

2. Point out the characteristics of Lars von Trier's films: with their triptych structure, the director focuses on analyzing human nature and psychology by delving deep into the dark corners of the soul, forcing viewers to think about what is frightening and terrifying through unique, realistic, yet evocative and thought-provoking images thanks to the use of handheld cameras, natural light, live sound recordings, and emotionally charged performances from the actors. Overall, Lars von Trier's films are not easy to watch, even quite heavy, but they are always an unforgettable experience. The pressing issues the director raises always move viewers, prompting reflection on something truly essential, and are conveyed through a unique and unconventional cinematic language.

3. Lars von Trier's writing practice shows that, despite being the one who put forward the Manifesto, he was the one who presented it.Dogme 95But his filmmaking style doesn't strictly adhere to its rules, at least not in the trilogy.Golden Heartonly atThe IdiotsIts impact is even more evident. This demonstrates Lars von Trier's "breaking the mold" not only against traditional filmmaking models but also against the rules he himself initiated. It is this individual creative freedom, transcending rigid frameworks, that is the foundation for his artistic success.

11. Practical applicability: The research results of this thesis will serve as a reference for introducing the achievements of Danish cinema in particular, and Nordic cinema in general – a gap in Vietnam's reception of the best of world cinema.

12. Future research directions:

- The issue of experimentation in Lars von Trier's cinematic discourse;

Approaching Lars von Trier's films from a psychoanalytic perspective.

13. Published works related to the thesis: None.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: TRAN MINH HUNG

2. Sex: Male

3. Date of birth: January 18, 1979

4. Place of birth: Phu Tho

5. Admission decision number: 3379/2017/QD-XHNV, Dated: December 19, 2017

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title:PrintNovationbeyond clichés inLars Von Trier's Trilogy"Golden Heart" (Breaking the waves, The Idiots, Dancer in the dark)

8. Major: Theory, History, and criticism of Film and Television

9. Code: 60210231

10. Supervisors: Associate Professor. Prof. Ph.D. Pham Gia Lam, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Hanoi.

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

Film has had hundreds of years of debut and development with many schools and innovative trends in film language which were forced by development of artistic thinking and advanced technology. The result of an innovative tendency is unique film productions which can shape its own principles and methods of producing film. It makes a round and when your turn comes, the principles and methods will be broken and exceeded by trial creativeness of film producers to agree with ever-developing principles of human art.

In the late XX century and the early XXI century, Lars von Trier director was remarkable in Danish film and the world. He was leader in new film producing method. He, in company with Thomas Vinterberg, Kristian Levring and Søren Kragh-Jacobsen took the initiativeDogme 95movement with 10 rules in order to leave traditional film producing method. Lars von Trier film's series (Breaking the Waves, The IdiotsandDancer in the Dark) followed the general rules ofDogme 95,It makes a mark of his own unique style as well.

Via survey, analyzing the movies, the study, which took a closer look on the topic and the style of filmmaking, has done the following:

1. Confirmed non-traditional film aesthetic which shown viaDogme 95's rules as Lars von Trier's creative foundation.

2. Further explore Lars von Trier's style of film producing method: with the series, he focused on analyzing human's identical features and mentality through penetrating deep into the darksides of the soul. It made the audience to think of scary and horrible through unique, truthfull, imaginable image which were created by hand-held film camera, physical light, direct recording and emotinal play-acting of actors and actresses. In general, Lars von Trier's films are not easy to watch and understand, even quite depressed but they're always unforgettable experiences. Persistent problems he brought out always make the audiences moved. All were manifested through innovation and unique film language.

3. The reality about Lars von Trier shows that: although he exposed theDogme 95manifesto, his film producing method followed the principles not completely. OnlyThe Idiotsin the seriesGolden Hearthad more remarkable than the others. These proved Lars von Trier's innovation was not only on traditional film producing method but also on his own principles. The freedom of creativity was the foundation of success in astistry.

12. Practical applicability: The study can be utilized as vital references for introducing Danish film's achievements and North Europe. It is also vital references in Vietnam for absorbing world's film quintessence.

13. Further research directions:

- The experiment in film discourse of Lars von Trier;

- Approach Lars von Trier's film from the perspective of psychoanalysis.

14. Thesis-related publications: None.