Idioterne (1998)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Writer:

Lars von Trier (writer)

Release Date:

20 May 1998 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Society is the mother of all Idiots

Plot:

The group of people gather at the house in Copenhagen suburb to break all the limitations and to bring out the "inner idiot" in themselves.

Plot Keywords:

Cult | Community | Public Nudity | Disturbing | Male Frontal Nudity

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Bodil Jørgensen	...	Karen
Jens Albinus	...	Stoffer
Anne Louise Hassing	...	Susanne
Troels Lyby	...	Henrik
Nikolaj Lie Kaas	...	Jeppe
Louise Mieritz	...	Josephine
Henrik Prip	...	Ped
Luis Mesonero	...	Miguel
Knud Romer Jørgensen	...	Axel
Trine Michelsen	...	Nana
Anne-Grethe Bjarup Riis	...	Katrine
Paprika Steen	...	High Class Lady
Erik Wedersøe	...	Stoffer's Uncle
Michael Moritzen	...	Man From Municipality
Anders Hove	...	Josephine's Father

Also Known As:

Dogma 2: 'The Idiots' (International: English title) (complete title)
Dogma 95 - Idioterne
Dogme # 2 - Idioterne (Denmark) (series title)
Dogme 2 (Denmark)
Idioterna (Sweden)
Idioti (Italy)
Les idiots (France)
The Idiots (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and nudity, and for language.

Runtime:

117 min | South Korea:110 min (cut)

Country:

Denmark | Sweden | France | Netherlands | Italy

Language:

Danish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | France:-12 (original rating) | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:(Banned) | Italy:T (cut) | Italy:VM14 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:(Banned) (original rating) | South Korea:18 (re-rating) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (cut)

Filming Locations:

Søllerød, Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Zentropa Entertainments

Trivia:

The second film in Lars von Trier's "Golden Heart" trilogy in which the heroines remain naïve despite their actions. The two other parts are Breaking the Waves (1996) and Dancer in the Dark (2000).

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: This is a film that adheres to the 'Dogme 95' manifesto, so the usual goof rules do not necessarily apply. This includes shots of the crew, microphones and other equipment, as well as continuity errors.

Quotes:

[at Stoffer's birthday party]
Susanne: I think Stoffer should choose what we do next. Because it's his party.
Stoffer: Gang bang.
Susanne: No, listen, we've got picture lotto, spin the bottle...
Stoffer: Gang bang.
Nana: Count me in. Gang bang! Gang bang!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Lars from 1-10 (1998)

Soundtrack:

Vi Er Dem De Andre Ikke Må lege Med

Astounding, brave, funny, touching.

Look I know jack about Dogme, but I know what I like and I like 'The Idiots'! A LOT.

I find it hard to understand how so much has been said about the "lack" of production values or the nudity in this movie, which to me aren't even worth mentioning, but hardly anyone comments about how astounding the ACTING is! The actors in this, and in Von Triers' previous 'Breaking The Waves', display completely realistic acting very rarely (if ever!) seen in Hollywood. So next time some Hollywood mediocre "actor" is up on the podium clutching their Oscar, force 'em to watch 'The Idiots' and see if they can pull off performances of this calibre! The "biker scene" in itself is one of the bravest, most funny/scary sequences I've ever seen in all my years of move watching!

While I think all the actors involved are faultless, I would single out Jens Albinus as Stoffer as being particularly outstanding. I hope to see him go on to bigger and better things. I say "better", but you won't find many contemporary movies "better" than 'The Idiots'!