1223. Idioterne

Idioterne
The Idiots

1998

Directed by Lars von Trier

We have now officially reached the "Mind Your Own Beeswax" portion of the List, which alludes to the way I have obtained the remaining titles. You always know when a movie is nearly impossible to locate that you are in for a slam dunk. This was just as terrible as I expected it to be.

A group of adults decide to behave in public as though they were mentally disabled, to challenge the establishment, or release their inhibitions, or I don't know what else. I guess it's to get a reaction from society, and get a reaction from us, the audience. If I'm required to forfeit a reaction, will they settle for dispirited and resigned?

Doesn't the graphic sex scene technically make this porn? I wasn't particularly bothered by it, but mostly because the movie had been so stupid up to that point that it made for a refreshing change of pace.

This is part of Lars von Trier's Dogma 95 Manifesto, which was really off to a spiffing start with this entry. I don't know if it is as difficult to find in other parts of the world as it was in my sector, but I would recommend avoiding this at all costs. Should be pretty easy. 

RATING: *----

Interesting Facts:

A favorite film of Tom Six, the creator of The Human Centipede trilogy. What a ringing endorsement.

English critic Mark Kermode was thrown out of a screening at the Cannes film festival for loudly heckling the film and yelling "Il est merde!"

957. Dancer in the Dark

Dancer in the Dark
2000
Directed by Lars von Trier

Apparently the early 2000s were the heyday of depressing musicals.  Of course, I should have known that Lars von Trier would take it to a whole other level.

The story is set in Washington, although it is clearly not the United States.  I suppose it could be part of his attempted artistry but it is strange all the same.  Selma Jezkova is a Czech immigrant who has a hereditary eye condition that is making her lose her vision.  She is saving up money working at a factory in order to pay for her young son's eye surgery to prevent him from going blind as well.  She often imagines that her life is a musical and daydreams about elaborate (but poorly choreographed) musical numbers.  I think revealing any more of the plot would qualify as a spoiler so I will just tell you: things get worse.

I am not sure that the Dogme style of filmmaking was right for a musical.  I am not saying that every musical has to be as grandiose as a Busby Berkeley film movie, but there should be at least some showmanship.  I have never minded Bjork's voice, but some of the songs were quite painful to sit through.  I am not saying they had to have perfectly executed dance sequences, but what they did come up with just didn't look good.

That being said, I was pulled into the story.  I thought the ending made up for some of the more mediocre scenes.  Also Catherine Deneuve was in this, and nothing can be too bad if you have Catherine Deneuve on your side.

So flawed, but ultimately funky enough to be memorable.  Definitely my favorite Trier film so far.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Bjork reportedly ate part of her costume after filming ended.

Lars Von Trier has said that Bjork spit at him every morning before filming.

906. Breaking the Waves

Breaking the Waves
1996
Directed by Lars von Trier

I am not going to say that Lars von Trier hates women, but he certainly puts his female characters through hell.  I am not entirely sure why.  It can't be to empower anyone, as the women rarely make it through their...trials (aka sexual torture).  Joss Whedon often makes his heroines suffer, but they come out of their suffering stronger than ever.  I would be happy for someone to explain how he is a genius in the comments section, because, to be honest, he is kind of creeping me out.

Bess McNeill, a slow, deeply religious beauty, marries Jan Nyman, an atheist oil rigger.  While he is away on the oil platform, Bess prays for him to return.  The next day, Jan is injured in an accident and becomes paralyzed from the neck down.  Bess is tormented by guilt, as she believe her prayer was the cause of his injury.  For some insane reason, Jan then asks Bess to have sex with other men and tell him about it, thereby preserving his masculinity?  I'm not sure about that.  In any case, Bess follows these orders with uh...gusto.

The religious content in this film is interesting.  I think von Trier is saying that organized religion (and the unyielding laws and sexual hysteria that comes with it) is kind of fucked, but I am not quite sure where he stands on the god question.  But, honestly, did any of my readers think I could enjoy this?  It was just so disgusting and horrifying.  It is hard for me to see the beauty in this.  I know it's there, but it is difficult for me to appreciate.

I'm just glad I don't have to watch Dogville after this.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Helena Bonham Carter originally was cast as Bess, but backed out due to the heavy sexual content.

885. Riget

Riget
The Kingdom
1994
Directed by Lars von Trier

Ugh, here we go again. The Listmakers try to slide a tv miniseries in the mix.  What's that about? I did enjoy this, but it certainly didn't fit with the rest of the movies.  Also, Riget is on the 1001 TV Shows You Must See Before You Die list, so it's kind of redundant.

Basically, weird things happen at a hospital in Denmark.  It actually seems like an American Horror Story season, minus Kathy Bates.  The creepiest plot line for me wasn't supernatural, but most of the odd things that take place are otherworldly.

This is a really atmospheric show; the sepia tones, the strange characters, and even the structure of the hospital are all incredibly chilling.  The ending was a bit silly, but I suppose the point of a season finale is to create hype for the second season.  That's another reason why it is obnoxious to include this on a list of 1001 movies.  The format is so different that it is impossible to compare with the rest of the List.

Aside from my List related grievances, this is worth checking out if you are into the horror genre.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

A third installment in the series was planned, but was ultimately scrapped as the lead actors were no longer available.