This book discusses the figure of Woman in Lars von Trier's distinctive cinematic productions
from 1996 to 2014. It takes the notorious legacy of violence against women in von Trier's
cinema beyond the perceived gender division elevating the director's image above being a mere
provocateur. By raising fundamental questions about woman sexuality and desire Elbeshlawy
shows that Trier's cinematic Woman is an attempt at creating an image of a genderless subject
that is not inhibited by the confines of ideology and culture. But this attempt is perennially
ill-fated. And it is this failure that not only fosters viewing enjoyment but also gives the
films their political importance elevating them above both commendations and condemnations of
feminist discourse.
