Fantastic Fest 2008

Brief Summary:
When it is discovered that the least productive 5% of Danish society consumes 60% of government spending, the conservative politicians decide to quietly eradicate the problem.

Full Description:
"HOW TO GET RID OF OTHERS" grew out of the debate we have in Denmark, I don't know how much you know about it. Denmark is one of the European countries who joined the coalition of the willing and has the most strict immigration policy in Europe that is bordering on being racist and has an extreme right wing government much like the one in the US. Out of this debate where they always ask foreigners how much are you worth, what do you do for the Danish society, why should we support you financially, why are you so dumb, why is your religion no good, why are your children dumber than the real Danish children? Everyday in the newspaper foreigners are confronted with this. If we applied the debate in Denmark onto ourselves, what would it look like? This is how HOW TO GET RID OF THE OTHERS came about." (Anders Ronnow Klarlund)

Have you ever thought the world has gone to hell and everyone has turned into Vicky Pollard from LITTLE BRITAIN? Would you be seriously pissed off if everyone in your country lived off the government teat, while you were busting your ass to make a living? In Denmark, many people think this type of scenario isn't too far off. Enter Anders Ronnow Klarlund, who has turned this scenario into his follow-up to the cult hit STRINGS. If STRINGS was a fairy tale involving puppets trying to overthrow evil, then HOW TO GET RID OF THE OTHERS is a fairy tale involving the Denmark government trying to overthrow and remove every unproductive member of its society. Anders Ronnow Klarlund crafts one of the darkest political comedies imaginable, which not only deftly probes the unproductive sector of society, but takes a very deep and personal look at foreign policy in today's hyper-sensitive climate of questionable immigration policies. From its opening sequence where the SWAT Teams swoop in and whisk senior citizen Gerda (still sitting in her scooter) away underneath a helicopter, we know that this film isn't going to be the usual political satire. As it plays out like a stage play meets THE BREAKFAST CLUB gone wrong, we follow several people labeled as socially unproductive, all with varying dreams and vices, who either try or don't care to save themselves from getting killed. (Blake Ethridge)

THE NEW COPENHAGEN CRITERIA
1 : Citizens that have received, over a long period of time, welfare or other social support, with the exception of state pension.

2 : Citizens who have willingly bypassed Danish law for the purpose of personal gain, including social fraud, systematic moonlighting, tax evasion, etc.

3 : Drug addicts and those who abuse recreational drugs, alcohol, etc.

4 : People who place excessive strain on the hospital system, far above the average.

5 : People who are incapable of caring for their own children.

6 : People who are out of work for unusually long periods of time. Including pensioners who have been invalided prematurely.

7 : People who have lived on the edge of the law for many years. Those who have often been in contact with the courts, swindlers, criminals, even though they haven't necessarily been convicted.

PARDON/EXEMPTION FROM PUNISHMENT
1 : It isn't enough to live up to a single criterion; it is recommended that at least three criteria are achieved before punishment is meted out.

2 : If an individual citizen - even though the person in question qualifies for several criteria - can provide some sort of proof that he or she has contributed to any kind of unselfish activity for the benefit of the common good then the individual will be free from punishment.