Written by Kearin Green
In the mid-90s, controversial and notorious Danish filmmaker Lars Von Trier received critical acclaim for his first big international feature film, Breaking the Waves (1996). The film centres around a troubled woman and religious fanatic, Bess, whose husband is paralyzed in an accident. It won the Grand Jury Prize at that year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Two years later, Von Trier would return to Cannes with a new feature completely different to what he had previously offered. This was the experimental The Idiots (1998), filmed in his native Danish, written in four days as part of the Dogme 95 Manifesto and, unlike its predecessor, was booed at the festival. Film critic Mark Kermode even walked out of the film screaming ‘il est merde’. What had Von Trier done, and why was it so bad?
The ensemble of idiots in Lars Von Trier’s The Idiots (1998)
Von Trier had done the most Von Trier thing that could possibly be done: he had taken on the challenge of making the weirdest film possible, about people pretending to have intellectual disabilities in order to enhance their lives.
To offer a short plot summary: The Idiots centres around a group of people in Copenhagen who live together in a commune-like environment and spend their days going around the city pretending to be people with intellectual disabilities, in order to bring out ‘their inner idiot’ and break societal norms. We find ourselves watching a group of people personifying their preconceptions of intellectual disabilities and their idea of what the term ‘idiot’ means. By going into these states- which they give a specific name, one which is ableist- they reach a sense of enlightenment.
It may be very clear to you now why the audience response at Cannes was so extreme and volatile. If the film had been screened for the first time in 2022, the whole cast and crew’s careers, if not lives, would be ruined- and someone (Von Trier) would be off to prison. From afar and through a brief glimpse of the film, The Idiots portrays having an intellectual disability as an escape from pain and that, in the most severe cases, this detachment from the world is a recipe for pure bliss and peace. It doesn’t take into account the humanity of individuals with these disabilities, nor the vast spectrum of intellectual disabilities and what they entail. In public, many of ‘the idiots’ take advantage of the community around them who find sympathy in them, not knowing their intentions. It’s beyond cringeworthy at times, to the extent that you have to remind yourself it’s just a film.
Throughout the film, whilst we don’t get to know a lot about them, many of the characters reference that they come from a place of suffering. One member’s father comes to find her, regarding her as troubled, and takes her away from the commune. Another member who joins ‘the idiots’ at the beginning of the film is mysterious and quiet, and is soon to be revealed as someone recovering from a heartbreaking trauma. As the film goes on, the characters realise that they can’t live in this way forever, and that they can’t hide from the individual sufferings which they have buried beneath the house they share.
Anyone who knows Von Trier films well will know that he isn’t bothered by controversy and criticism. Based on the patterns and themes of the films that he would make following The Idiots, it’s clear that he enjoys the reaction, the disgust, and the fear that people have towards his films. Whilst The Idiots is not violent or difficult to watch (except for how cringe it is and one orgy scene which led to the film being banned in UK Blockbuster shops at the time), it is the definition of politically incorrect. He likes to provoke, and wants the audience to ask themselves why they find what he’s made so revolting or extreme. He is fully aware of everything he does, and likely knows the consequences of it.
In spite of the criticism I’ve given it, I actually like this film. I love the Dogme 95 approach, the loose plot, and the documentary-like aspect of watching people carry out these absurd acts. I understand that no one is asking me to condone the behaviour of the characters and how they’re taking advantage of such a vulnerable minority in order to benefit themselves and themselves only. I want to say that Von Trier utilises satire to highlight the humanity of his characters and the depth of their behaviour, in order to help the audience understand how they have ended up where they are. That’s how I perceive it- and as evil as I believe Von Trier is, I don’t believe his intention was to make an entire film mocking the intellectually disabled. In his usual crude way, he wanted to portray human suffering. In the four days he was given to write a screenplay, The Idiots was the best he could do to convey his message.
The Idiots is not only a film that I like and enjoyed viewing, but also one that I am fascinated by, simply because there is nothing like it out there. There is no filmmaker as repugnant and honest as Lars Von Trier. Whether you want to expose yourself to that isn’t a sign of strength or weakness; it’s an act of observing your own innocence, and whether you’re ready to lose it or not.
The Idiots is not available on any streaming services in the UK but is available to rent or buy on numerous sites such as iTunes. Check out the Justwatch app to see where you can access it.
About The Author: Kearin Green (she/her)
Hi, I’m Kearin and I am the magazine’s Welfare Officer! I am a second year Film Production student and am currently committed to using our support platform to give mental health a louder voice at our university. I also write about cinema, political issues, humour pieces and whatever comes to mind.
(This piece was edited by Amber Turner-Brightman)
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