The Idiots

The Idiots

Year: 2000

Runtime: 117 min

Language: Danish

Director: Lars von Trier

DramaComedy

A quiet dinner is disrupted when a group pretending to be mentally challenged unexpectedly enter a restaurant. Drawn into their world, Karen explores their communal home and their deliberate rejection of conventional society through embracing absurdity. As she becomes more involved with their lifestyle and performances, she questions the boundaries between their constructed personas and genuine identity, leading to a blurring of reality.

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Timeline – The Idiots (2000)

Trace every key event in The Idiots (2000) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

The Group's Formation

A disparate group of adults, feeling stifled by societal norms, comes together in a quest to find their 'inner idiot.' They aim to disrupt societal expectations by embracing absurdity and shedding their inhibitions through outrageous public acts.

2

Spassing at the Restaurant

The group decides to enact their concept of 'spassing' at a local restaurant, where they disrupt the peace and provoke reactions from unsuspecting diners. Their behavior is barely controlled by their handler, Susanne, as they pretend to be mentally impaired, which elicits a range of responses from patrons.

Local Restaurant
3

Meeting Karen

Among the diners, Karen, a single woman, misinterprets the group's antics as a genuine condition, feeling sympathy for them. One member of the group goes so far as to take her hand, leading her into what she believes is a sincere connection.

Local Restaurant
4

The Taxi Ride

As the group ushers Karen into a taxi, the atmosphere is riddled with confusion. It isn't long into the ride that Karen starts to piece together the reality of the situation, transitioning from sympathy to discomfort as she realizes the absurdity of their ruse.

Taxi
5

Arrival at the House

The taxi ride culminates at a sprawling house that belongs to Stoffer's uncle, where the group's absurd activities continue. Karen finds herself in an environment filled with chaos and unconventional antics, drastically shifting her initial perception of the group.

Stoffer's Uncle's House
6

Challenge to Social Norms

The group's continued antics, defined by their concept of 'spassing,' reflect a deeper dissatisfaction with how society perceives individuals with disabilities. They seek to provoke societal outcry and challenge established norms, creating an atmosphere of bizarre rebellion.

7

Stoffer's Birthday Celebration

At Stoffer's birthday party, the absurdity reaches new heights when he whimsically expresses a desire for a 'gangbang.' This unexpected proclamation leads to a chaotic group dynamic, where some members partake while others, including Karen, choose to withdraw.

Stoffer's House
8

The Disbandment of the Group

Confronted with the challenge of living out their idiocy in daily life, most group members opt to leave, resulting in a disbandment of sorts. This turning point highlights the contrast between Stoffer's ideals and the group's willingness to embrace or reject them.

9

Karen's New Resolve

Unlike her companions, Karen embraces the challenge of self-expression and absurdity. She invites Susanne to her home, aiming to explore their newfound understanding of living freely, even if it means confronting the potential consequences.

Karen's Home
10

Shock from Family

Upon arriving at Karen's home, Susanne and Karen are greeted by the shock of her mother. The tension is palpable as Karen has been missing for two weeks following a significant personal loss, and her return with no explanation raises countless questions.

Karen's Home
11

Attempt to Act Foolishly

In a bid to fully embody the 'spassing' mentality, Karen makes a clumsy attempt to behave foolishly at the dinner table. However, her effort explodes into chaos, as she is met with unexpected violence from her husband, Anders, plunging her deeper into conflict.

Karen's Home
12

Leaving Home

After the volatile encounter with her husband, Karen and Susanne make the decision to leave the family home. They step into the unknown, driven by a desire to explore their identities and the meaning of freedom away from societal pressures.

Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 18:40

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Characters use provocative performances to challenge and escape a broken society.Explore films that, like The Idiots, feature characters using radical performances to provoke society. If you enjoyed the unsettling exploration of identity and norm-breaking in The Idiots, these movies offer similar stories of rebellion and the search for authenticity through transgressive acts.

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The narrative pattern involves an outsider being drawn into a seemingly idyllic or radical communal setting. The group's unity is tested by the raw, unprocessed emotions of its members, particularly grief or loss. The story follows the gradual or sudden dissolution of the community, leaving characters in a state of unresolved anguish.

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These movies are united by their melancholic and raw exploration of group dynamics under emotional strain. They share a steady pacing that builds a sense of inevitable collapse, a heavy emotional weight driven by themes of loss, and a bleak, ambiguous ending that leaves a lasting sense of discomfort.

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The Idiots Summary

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