通过php设置utf8与mysql

I have the following very simple code, which retrieves utf8 formatetd data, such as containing umlauts from a mysql database, which may or may not be set as utf8. If I use either of the commented out approaches to ensure that utf8 data is returned, the data will NOT be returned as utf8, however if I leave them off, the data will be displayed. Why would forcing utf8 negate displaying data as utf8?I have the following very simple code, which re