It took natives like director Jared Hess (raised in Preston, Idaho, where the movie was filmed) and Jon Heder, who played Napoleon (born in Fort Collins, Colorado) to show them to the rest of us.

Efren Ramirez and Jon Heder in ‘Napoleon Dynamite’©Fox Searchlight ... “I’m not saying that’s a funny story from the tour — but that is a story from the tour!” ...

The film’s lead, Jon Heder, as well as co-stars Efren Ramirez (Pedro), and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) spoke to Indiewire during an ongoing Napoleon Dynamite Live show that the trio have been touring ...

"We had no idea anybody would see this film," said Jon Heder (aka Napoleon himself ... "I'm not saying that's a funny story from the tour - but that is a story from the tour!" ...