Village of Idiots_
"“Outsiders call Chelm the village of idiots,” Shmendrick explains, “but our rabbi said we were a city of natural geniuses, with our own way of figuring things out.”"
Based on a Jewish folk tale adapted by playwright John Lazarus, this animated short tells the story of Shmendrik, a simpleton living in a small Polish village. Weary of daily life in his native Chelm, Shmendrik sets out on a quest for knowledge that brings him to a new Chelm, a place eerily reminiscent of his old Chelm. An amusing take on our tendency to romanticize what we don't have.
Starring
Jack Newman, Nicholas Rice
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Prime Video
1 country
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Year context
Village of Idiots was released 27 years ago in 1999.
Overview
Based on a Jewish folk tale adapted by playwright John Lazarus, this animated short tells the story of Shmendrik, a simpleton living in a small Polish villag...
Village of Idiots is a Animation film with a runtime of 0h 12m.
CAST (2)
Jack Newman
Nicholas Rice
STUDIOS (1)
ONF | NFB
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
12 min (0h 12m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
6.7/10 (3 votes)
Popularity
3
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Village of Idiots about?
Based on a Jewish folk tale adapted by playwright John Lazarus, this animated short tells the story of Shmendrik, a simpleton living in a small Polish village. Weary of daily life in his native Chelm, Shmendrik sets out on a quest for knowledge that brings him to a new Chelm, a place eerily reminiscent of his old Chelm. An amusing take on our tendency to romanticize what we don't have.
How long is Village of Idiots?
Village of Idiots has a runtime of 12 minutes (0h 12m).
Who stars in Village of Idiots?
The cast of Village of Idiots includes Jack Newman, Nicholas Rice.
What is the rating of Village of Idiots?
Village of Idiots has a rating of 6.7 out of 10 based on 3 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Animation