Napoleon Dynamite

Napoleon Dynamite is an American independent film written and directed by Jared Hess. The movie is based on the short film he directed at Brigham Young University with Jon Heder, Peluca, which was discovered at the Slamdance Film Festival. Napoleon debuted in 2004, earning $116,666 in its opening weekend, and over $44.5 million as of February 6, 2005. The film cost only $400,000 to make. The DVD was released on December 21, 2004. Since its release, it has gained somewhat of a cult film status among Generation Y'ers and young people, who seem to identify with the film to some degree. In 2005, it won 3 MTV Movie Awards, for Breakthrough Male Performance, Best Musical Performance, and Best Movie. It was filmed in Preston, Idaho, USA.

Introduction

The film follows the protagonist Napoleon Dynamite, a rather slow, dorky high school student with a penchant for milk tasting, drawing, fishing for bass, and telling implausible stories. The film showcases Napoleon's personality and circle of equally quirky friends, family, and associates in his predominantly Mormon hometown of Preston, Idaho. Though the film has been described as "quirky", it is not in the same vein as the Wes Anderson films, as the main character, his brother and some of his friends' behavior at times borders on Asperger's Syndrome, an autism-spectrum condition characterized by extreme social awkwardness and fascination with specific things that many might consider inane or irrelevant to daily life. It is unlikely that this similarity was intended or even recognized by the film-makers, as they have stated in commentaries that their own social awkwardness growing up was the inspiration for the characters. Napoleon's family recognizes that he and his 32-year-old brother Kip require adult supervision (they live with their grandmother, who sends their Uncle Rico to look after them while she is hospitalized). Napoleon's brother Kip does not differ much from Napolean in his awkwardness.

Related Topics:
Protagonist - High school - Milk - Drawing - Fishing - Bass - Mormon - Preston - Idaho - Wes Anderson - Asperger's Syndrome

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