Erik Nietzsche

The Early Years: Erik Nietzsche Part 1 (Danish: De unge år. Erik Nietzsche sagaen del 1) is a 2007 Danish comedy-drama film directed by Jacob Thuesen. Set at the National Film School of Denmark in 1979, it stars Jonatan Spang as the socially awkward student Erik Nietzsche. It is a semi-biographical film inspired by Lars von Trier's time as a student, with a screenplay co-written by Trier who is credited as Erik Nietzsche. It is full of veiled portrayals and caricatures of people from Denmark's film world. Lone Scherfig was set to direct the film, but dropped out citing a scheduling conflict. Thuesen took over as director and filming began on 25 September 2006. The film was released in Danish cinemas on 25 December 2007.