THE IDIOTS: FOMO Indi Film Fest Screening
Friday 13. March at 19:30 - 21:27
FOMO Secret Cinema, Tbilisi
Lars von Trier | 1998 | Denmark | 1h57m | Danish language with English subtitles
THE IDIOTS is presented as part of our extended Independent Film Fest at FOMO Secret Cinema, Tbilisi, showcasing the best emerging filmmaking talent from across the globe.
In 1995, Danish filmmakers Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg introduced the Dogme 95 manifesto, a radical attempt to strip cinema down to its most essential elements. Elaborate sets, artificial lighting, special effects and non-diegetic music were banned under what they called the “Vow of Chastity.” The goal was to remove technical artifice and place the full weight of the film on performance, situation and emotional honesty.
THE IDIOTS became the second official film produced under these rules, following Vinterberg’s THE CELEBRATION (also screening at FOMO this week 21:30 Tuesday 10 March). Shot on handheld digital cameras using natural light and real locations, THE IDIOTS follows a group of young adults living together in a suburban commune who conduct a strange social experiment. They deliberately behave like people with intellectual disabilities in public spaces, claiming that by “spazzing” they can expose the hypocrisy and hidden cruelty of polite society.
As the group pushes their experiment further, the boundaries between performance, provocation and genuine vulnerability begin to blur. Von Trier’s camera stays close to the actors, capturing awkward silences, confrontations and moments of emotional collapse with disarming immediacy.
Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998, THE IDIOTS quickly became one of the most controversial films associated with the Dogme movement. More than two decades later it remains one of the clearest examples of how independent filmmaking can challenge both cinematic conventions and social norms.
Location: FOMO Secret Cinema, Bazari Orbeliani, Tbilisi. A five minute walk from Liberty Square metro.
How to find FOMO: Enter the Bazari via Atoneli St above Carrefour and take the stairs on your left as soon as you enter next to the karaoke booth. FOMO is one flight up. Video instructions here: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17933106294029235
T&Cs: Guests must enter the Bazari by 23:00 to gain access to the FOMO Cinema Lounge Bar. If the Atoneli St entrance is locked you can get in via the side entrance on Sulkhanishvil St between 21:00 and 23:00. We close at 02:00 each evening. No refunds are issued unless we cancel the screening ourselves. Tickets also available at the bar unless sold out. Whatsapp 591100216 with questions.
FOMO Secret Cinema • Bazari Orbeliani, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia
