The Kingdom 2 (2000)

Synopsis: Lars von Trier presents another chapter in his outrageous Danish made-for-television soap opera. Once again set in the halls of "The Kingdom," a modernized Copenhagen hospital, this second installment (out of a projected three) picks up right where the first left off, with the birth of... Lars von Trier presents another chapter in his outrageous Danish made-for-television soap opera. Once again set in the halls of "The Kingdom," a modernized Copenhagen hospital, this second installment (out of a projected three) picks up right where the first left off, with the birth of Judith's grotesque, mutant baby (played hysterically by Udo Kier). Also returning is the frazzled neurosurgeon Stig Helmer (Ernst-Hugo Jaregard), who is about to be exposed for a tragic operation that left a young girl brain dead. After his impulsive trip to Haiti, Stig begins resorting to voodoo and poison in order to take out the greatest threat to his future. Predictably, Stig's already shaky sanity begins to unravel at an even more rapid pace. Also on board is the sweet-natured, clairvoyant Mrs. Drusse (Kirsten Rolffes), whose constant hypochondria is finally manifested when she's hit by an ambulance. Tying up many storylines from the first part, THE KINGDOM 2 also sets up a series of new conflicts, which are left unresolved by the shocking climax. Once again, von Trier gets in touch with his devilish, mischievous side, resulting in a relentless, deeply entertaining melodrama that is at turns shocking, hilarious, and wholly original. This film was screened in April 2001 as part of a retrospective called Breaking the Rules: The Cinema of Lars Von Trier at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City. [More]