as Jeppe Louise Mieritz as Josephine Henrik Prip as Ped Luis Mesonero as Miguel Knud Romer Jørgensen as Axel Trine Michelsen as Nana Anne-Grethe Bjarup Riis as Katrine Paprika Steen as High-class lady Erik Wedersøe as Stoffer's uncle Michael Moritzen as Man From Municipality Anders Hove as Josephine's father Lars von Trier (uncredited voice) as Interviewer Production The Idiots is a co-production of companies from Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. It was filmed during May and June 1997. The script was written over just four days, between 16-19 May. Style The confession of a Dogme 95 film is an idea adapted by Thomas Vinterberg in the first Dogme 95 film: Make a confession if there were things happening on the shoot which are not in accordance with the strict interpretation of the Dogme 95 rules. It is written from the director's point of view. Accordingly, von Trier made the following confession: In relation to the production of Dogme 2 "The Idiots", I confess: To have used a stand-in in one case only (the sexual intercourse scene). To have organised payment of cash to the actors for shopping of accessories (food). To have intervened with the location (by moving sources of light – candlelight – to achieve exposure). To have been aware of the fact that the production had entered into an agreement of leasing a car (without the knowledge of the involved actor). All in all, and apart from the above, I feel to have lived up to the intentions and rules of the manifesto: Dogme95. In order to not violate Dogme 95 rule 2, forbidding the use of non-diegetic music, a harmonica player was recorded during the shooting of some scenes, including the end credits, even if he is not seen onscreen. Release The Idiots provoked a storm of publicity and debates, one of which was about the fictional representation of disability. Film critic Mark Kermode's reaction was to shout "Il est merde! Il est merde! (sic)" from the back of the auditorium during the official screening of the film at Cannes, a spontaneous review for which he was ejected from the venue. Channel 4 aired the film unedited in 2005 as part of the channel's "Banned" season exploring censorship and cinematic works. Viewer complaints prompted an Ofcom investigation, which came out in favour of Channel 4. In its ruling, Ofcom found the film "not in