Line #15 Film/TheIdiots


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_idiots.jpg]]
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3	''Idioterne'', released internationally as ''The Idiots'', is a 1998 Danish film written and directed by the ever-infamous Creator/LarsVonTrier. The film was the second officially released MediaNotes/{{Dogme 95}} film after Creator/ThomasVinterberg's ''Film/TheCelebration''.
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5	The story opens with a shy woman, Karen (Bodil Jørgensen), sitting in a fancy restaraunt. Suddenly, the establishment is disturbed by the behaviour of two apparently mentally ill men. The men (and their carer) are promptly asked to leave, but on the way out, one of the men notices Karen and decides to hold her hand, forcing the timid lady to go with them. Upon leaving however, it is revealed that the two men aren't mentally handicapped at all. They were just faking it, seemingly ForTheLulz.
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7	[[BlackComedy Black]] HilarityEnsues as Karen and ourselves are introduced to a larger group of "idiots" or "spassers" and their lives in a series of episodes of [[MoodWhiplash varying moods]].
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9	----
10	!!This film provides examples of:
11	* BlackComedy: Some of the darkest comedy you will ever see.
12	* BreakTheCutie: The film is the second entry in von Trier's [[ThematicSeries "Golden Hearts" Trilogy]] (between ''Film/BreakingTheWaves'' and ''Film/DancerInTheDark''), focusing on this trope. In this case, this happens to Karen, [[TokenGoodTeammate the nicest of the "spassers"]]. In the final scene of the movie, it is revealed [[spoiler: she has lost her young baby, has been missing for two weeks, and is treated with cold indifference by her family. Even her husband slaps her when she tries to embrace her "inner idiot" in front of him.]]
13	* CrapsaccharineWorld: Stoffer tries to expose the town of Sollerod as one of these. The citizens end up almost proving him right by putting their own discomforts above being charitable. Of course, when faced with a similar challenge, Stoffer ends up looking like a {{Hypocrite}}.
14	* CreatorCameo: Lars von Trier appears in an uncredited role as the interviewer/officer/therapist talking to the idiots throughout the film.
15	* CringeComedy: The entire premise of the film, used to make a point. [[AlternateAesopInterpretation Maybe]].
16	* DecoyProtagonist: Since the film is part of the "Golden Hearts" Trilogy, it might seem at first glance Karen is going to be the main character (She is also the first character to appear on screen). However, she remains sidelined for most of the movie [[spoiler: until the final scene]], with Sotffer being the center of attention for most part.
17	* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The main characters are adults who fake developmental disability as a sort of juvenile game (and in some cases to take advantage of people's hospitality) while regularly throwing around slurs like "retard" and "spaz." The movie clearly wants you to [[HateSink hate these pathetic people]].
18	* DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery: What the idiots invoke. Subverted in that they're faking it.
19	%%* DownerEnding
20	* FanDisservice: Pretty much all of the nudity, largely due to the encroaching style of shooting.
21	* HeroicBSOD: Stoffer has a... rather unusual one aimed at a local council worker.
22	* HypocriticalHumour: Thrown about quite a bit by Stoffer.
23	* InspirationallyDisadvantaged: Invoked and somewhat deconstructed. The "spassers" act less like actually mental challenged people and more like the kind of childishly naïve adults who pass for such in movies, milking people's sympathies to do whatever they want.
24	* ItAmusedMe: Why the idiots most likely do what they do.
25	* {{Jerkass}}: Stoffer. As if pretending to be developmentally disabled wasn't bad enough, he eventually starts forcing everyone in his commune to further humiliate themselves because his "spazzing" makes him DrunkWithPower.
26	* LonelyPianoPiece: The sombre violin piece repeated occasionally throughout the film, breaking Dogme 95 rule about only including diegetic sound.
27	* ManChild: All of the spasers, to an extent, considering what it is they do, but especially Stoffer.
28	* {{Minimalism}}: As part of MediaNotes/{{Dogme 95}}, the film, the film features almost entirely natural lighting, on-location shooting, diegetic sound, {{visible boom mic}}s and {{no stunt double}}s.
29	* MoodWhiplash: Much like ''Film/TheCelebration'', this film vaults the viewer back and forth mentally again and again.
30	* ObfuscatingDisability: The Idiots' favorite trick to get out of pretty much every situation they find themselves in.
31	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Stoffer delivers one to his associates towards the end.
32	* WhamLine:
33	-->'''Susanne''': I think Stoffer should choose what we do next. Because it's his party.\
34	'''Stoffer''': [[spoiler: Gang bang.]]

Context Film / TheIdiots