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The Idiots [1999] [DVD]

The Idiots [1999] [DVD]Director: Lars von Trier
Actors: Bodil Jørgensen, Jens Albinus, Anne Louise Hassing, Troels Lyby, Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Studio: Palisades Tartan
Category: DVD

List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £5.95
as of 10/9/2010 14:41 CDT details
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New (23) Used (13) from £4.30

Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars 18 reviews

Format: Colour, PAL, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Subtitled), Danish (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.66:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6

EAN: 5023965330628

Theatrical Release Date: January 1, 1998
Release Date: September 25, 2000
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days

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1 out of 5 stars Idiotic   August 3, 2010
Mr. D. Gumble (Herts, England)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

For many a month I have been waiting to see Lars von Trier's Dogme 95 debut feature `The Idiots'. For me, von Trier has been responsible for some of the most intelligent, thought provoking and confrontational cinema over the past decade. I found both `Dogville' and' Manderlay' extremely interesting in their approach to improvisation and theatrical experimentation, while last year's `Antichrist' provided one of 2009's surprise highlights, boasting two of the years most outstanding performances from Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

`The Idiots', however, is possibly one of the worst films I have seen in a very, very long time. It is a film of unbridled stupidity, sloppily disguised as a piece of taboo-shattering, art house cinema. Its premise; a group of able bodied and able minded adults pretend to be mentally handicapped in order to challenge society's attitudes, as well as to get in touch with their own `inner idiot'. As ridiculous as this premise may sound, the film takes itself so seriously that one can only imagine how anyone involved failed to detect a sense of irony in the performances of the actors or the manner by which the subject matter was dealt. In some instances, the film glides dangerously close to becoming a parody of self-righteous, Gus van Sant-esque drivel. This pretentious plot or lack thereof, is at best flimsy, and at worst, insulting of its audience.

Stupidity and pretentiousness aside, `The Idiots' is an appalling exercise in shameless shock tactics and unnecessary moments of controversy. In one particularl sequence of laugh-out-loud ludicrousness, we see the group embark on a `spass (spaz) gangbang' to further their journey towards their `inner idiot'. Just try saying this phrase aloud whilst maintaining a straight face, let alone a serious one. In an attempt to heighten the `realism' and `gritty' nature of this scene, von Trier uses scenes of actors having real sex. Quite what purpose this really serves, other than creating a fair amount of controversy and publicity for the film, is simply beyond me.

On reflection, all that can really be said about `The Idiots' is that it is proof of the fact that even the best directors, even those such as the great Lars von Trier, are capable of producing moments of absolute, inexcusable, nonsensical rubbish. For anyone still interested in seeing `The Idiots', if you feel that watching a group of people acting like "retards" for 2 hours, whilst staging a `spaz gangbang' to assist in their search for the `inner idiot' sounds promising, this could be the film for you. If not, don't bother.



1 out of 5 stars emperors new clothes   January 2, 2010
smallman
1 out of 5 found this review helpful

I read a review of this dvd in a magazine, then the reviews on amazon, and thought it sounded interesting. Then i watched it and didnt get it at all, either that or its title refers to us for buying the rubbish!


4 out of 5 stars Dare to laugh   October 12, 2009
R. J. Harvey (UK)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

It's easy to confuse the adjectives "controversial" and "thought-provoking". The difference is that the former is a concept manufactured by the media and the latter is the raison d'etre of film-makers like Lars von Trier. Ostensibly this is a film about a group of people pretending to have cerebral palsy. But obviously that's not what it's really about; and I think that only those without the inclination to seek one of many possible meanings would label it "controversial" on this basis. It's classic knee-jerk.

The Idiots is a challenging indictment of middle-class hypocrisies and an enthralling deconstruction of the bohemian ideal.

Early in the film the question keeps being asked: Why is what we're doing wrong? "Because you're poking fun." But who really comes out of the narrative looking idiotic? The stuttering patio-owner, fearful of a potential insurance claim? Josephine's father, who tears his weeping daughter away from her friends? Rarely it's The Idiots themselves, whose motivations are subtly sketched out as Stoffer's commune collapses around him.

Stoffer himself is "anti-middle-class", suggesting he's simply afraid of growing up. There's the doctor, constantly writing notes, who may be treating the whole affair as some kind of social experiment. There's the marketing man, using the commune as an escape from the superficiality of his truly idiotic occupation. And there's Karen, our silent observer, whose own reasons for falling in love with The Idiots comes to flatten us in the final reel. This leads to a gripe: certain characters remain nothing MORE than sketches. I would have liked to see von Trier eschew some of the social confrontation scenes in favour of further narrative episodes.

Some scenes - such as the door-to-door Christmas decoration sale, or the house-buyers' tour - may come across as crass and cruel, but they're fascinating insofar as they present the hypocrisies that lie in the heart of us all.

Perhaps the impact of The Idiots' public "spassing" is softened somewhat in these post-Borat/Bruno days. But von Trier is a trickier customer than Baron Cohen. As such, we laugh aloud, but we're never quite sure of who we're laughing - or, indeed, if we should be laughing at all. Watch this, and then watch how all other films seem quaint by comparison.


5 out of 5 stars Amazing!!   July 30, 2009
E. Paldam (Denmark)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

In my opinion, Trier is a ground breaking director. The Idiots is a touching and original movie.


4 out of 5 stars Quick Reviews!   December 15, 2007
carlosnightman (A Seat)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Another impressive outing for Von Trier, and again one surrounded by controversy. The plot about a group of people acting like they are mentally retarded for various reasons is enough to stir up anger, but it more importantly stirs up thoughts, and we get a real sense of society's lack of understanding, fear, and judgement of the mentally retarded. The films most thought provoking parts are when we see the public's reactions to their behaviour, some smile and try not to show any nervousness, others simply avoid them, and it is a very effective look at our ideals. However, even this is turned on its head as the group are infiltrated by a genuine group of mentally retarded people, and some of them cannot cope. As we see the group falling apart, we learn their different reasons for pursuing such an idea, some for fun, some to expose 'middle-class fascism', others because it makes them ecstatically happy. The group leader of sorts, Stoffer takes it all seriously, often going too far in the eyes of the others, but explains that everyone has an inner idiot that we should all learn to embrace. The film follows the group's exploits, taking in a new member Karen who seems sympathetic, at first not understanding why they do it, but intrigued by it. She too eventually joins in. However, several outside intrusions from the real world and from family members mean that the group begins to fall apart. Stoffer claims that the only way to prove if you are worthy of the group and dedicated to your inner idiot is to stop 'spazzing', as they call it, in front of strangers, but in front of their closest friends and family. Karen agrees to try this, and her past is revealed.

The film, according to the Dogma rules, was filmed by hand-held, and is all the more powerful for it. Each performance is powerful and very convincing, and we are left questions our own attitudes. The most shocking scenes were believed to be the gang-bang scenes featuring full frontal nudity. Although short, and an important part of the plot, they were cut to an extent, with black boxes covering certain areas. The film has since been shown uncut, and has gained critical success. However, it will never reach a mainstream audience, and therefore very few people will be affected by it. As Von trier's reputation grows though, more people will return to this, which can only be good.

This DVD features a trailer, filmographies, stills, and information on the Dogma manifesto from 1995. Nothing special considering the controversy surrounding the films, but still worth buying if you're a fan of European cinema


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