Festen (1998)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Writers:

Thomas Vinterberg (screenplay) &
Mogens Rukov (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 June 1998 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Every family has a secret.

Plot:

At Helge's 60th birthday party, some unpleasant family truths are revealed.

Plot Keywords:

Speech | Birthday | Suicide | Family Secret | Estate

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 24 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Ulrich Thomsen	...	Christian
Henning Moritzen	...	Faderen - Helge
Thomas Bo Larsen	...	Michael
Paprika Steen	...	Helene
Birthe Neumann	...	Moderen - Else
Trine Dyrholm	...	Pia
Helle Dolleris	...	Mette
Therese Glahn	...	Michelle
Klaus Bondam	...	Toastmasteren - Master of Ceremonies
Bjarne Henriksen	...	Kokken - Kim
Gbatokai Dakinah	...	Gbatokai
Lasse Lunderskov	...	Onklen - Uncle
Lars Brygmann	...	Receptionisten - Receptionist
Lene Laub Oksen	...	Søsteren - Sister
Linda Laursen	...	Birthe
John Boas	...	Farfar - Grand-dad
Erna Boas	...	Farmor - Grandma
Bent Henningsen	...	Statister - Extra
Poul Kajbæk	...	Statister - Extra
Vibeke Dalset	...	Statister - Extra
Janne Thomsen	...	Statister - Extra
Anette Jakobsen	...	Statister - Extra
Poul Petersen	...	Statister - Extra
Gulli Sejrsen	...	Statister - Extra
Vibeke Kaiser	...	Statister - Extra
John Johnsen	...	Statister - Extra
Dan Eilertsen	...	Statister - Extra
Søren Søgreni	...	Statister - Extra
Annette Jakobsen	...	Statister - Extra
Kate Goldschmidt	...	Statister - Extra
Jens Nørring	...	Statister - Extra
Bent Kaiser	...	Statister - Extra
Maria Myrgård	...	Statister - Extra
Peter Krag	...	Statister - Extra
Stig Poul Hansen	...	Statister - Extra
Kaj Rasmussen	...	I Køkkenet - In The Kitchen
Robert Strandgård	...	I Køkkenet - In The Kitchen
Gry Worre Hallberg	...	I Køkkenet - In The Kitchen
René	...	I Køkkenet - In The Kitchen
Christine Louise Jørgensen	...	Børn - Children
Dorte Olofsen	...	Børn - Children
Kasper Olofsen	...	Børn - Children
Emilian Sejersen	...	Børn - Children
Susanne Funck	...	Børn - Children
Rosmarie Jørgensen	...	Børn - Children
Lasse Jacobsen	...	Børn - Children
Sigrid Aalbæk	...	Børn - Children
Mikkel Jacobsen	...	Børn - Children
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Birgitte Simonsen	...	Christian's Friend (uncredited)
Thomas Vinterberg	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Thomas Vinterberg		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Thomas Vinterberg		(screenplay) &
Mogens Rukov		(screenplay)
Thomas Vinterberg		(idea)

Produced by
Birgitte Hald	....	producer
Morten Kaufmann	....	line producer

Original Music by
Lars Bo Jensen

Cinematography by
Anthony Dod Mantle

Film Editing by
Valdís Óskarsdóttir		(as Valdis Oskarsdottìr)

Casting by
Marie Louise Hedegaard		(as Rie Hedegaard)
Lene Seested

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eigil Jacobsen	....	assistant director (as Eigil Jakobsen)

Sound Department
Morten Holm	....	sound designer
Bruno Langiano	....	foley artist
Ad Stoop	....	boom operator
Nick Watson	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Kasper Val Bjerregård Larsen	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Hjorth	....	technical supervisor

Stunts
Thomas Bo Larsen	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Hjorth	....	additional camera operator
Lars Høgsted	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Thomas Caspersen	....	synchronization: location
Jan Gundtofte-Bruun	....	synchronization: location
Vagn Rose	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Lars Bo Jensen	....	musician: piano

Other crew
Mie Andreasen	....	production staff
Jens Arentzen	....	consultant
Peter Hjorth	....	technical supervisor
Signe Jensen	....	production staff
Torben Stig Nielsen	....	production staff
David C.H. Østerbøg	....	production staff (as David Østerbøg)
Karina Strand	....	production staff
Camilla Thomsen	....	production staff

Thanks
Jens Arentzen	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to
Trine Breum	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to
Susanne Bruun de Neergaard	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to, Skjoldenæsholm Hotel og Konferencecenter
Per Fly	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to
Karin Trille Høy	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to (as Trille Høy)
Jørgen Kromann	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to (as Jørgen Kromann Larsen)
Ole Christian Madsen	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to
Birgitte Simonsen	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to
Ingerlise Vinterberg	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to
Carsten Walbom	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to
Lone Walbom	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to (as Lone)
Maria Walbom	....	acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to

Production Companies

• Nimbus Film Productions (presents) (produced by) (as Nimbus Film)
• Danmarks Radio (DR) (in collaboration with) (as DR TV)
• Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond (with support from)
• SVT Drama

Distributors

• Arthaus Filmverleih (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (Argentina)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Atalanta Filmes (Portugal)
• Budapest Film
• Cult Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Europafilm AS (Norway)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Golem Distribución (Spain)
• Homescreen (2000) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Les Films du Losange (France)
• Maywin Media (Russia) (CIS)
• October Films (USA) (subtitled)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (Denmark)
• Triangelfilm (Sweden)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2007) (Australia) (DVD)
• Versátil (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Mainstream ApS  mix studio
• Panorama  casting
• Skjoldenæsholm Hotel og Konferencecenter  acknowledgment: we are profoundly, unreservedly grateful to

Also Known As:

The Celebration (UK) (USA)
Dogme # 1 - Festen (Denmark) (series title)
Dogme 1 (Denmark)
The Celebration: Dogme #1 (Canada: English title) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content and language, including references to sexual abuse.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

Denmark | Sweden

Language:

Danish | German | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Skjoldenæsholm, Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Nimbus Film Productions

Trivia:

28 March 1996:The Danish National Radio (DR) broadcasts "Koplevs Krydsfelt" where the anonymous caller "Allan" tells his story about an unusual speech he held at his step-fathers 60th birthday. One of the many listeners to this strange story is director Thomas Vinterberg who gathers inspiration to his first dogme movie.

Goofs:

Plot holes: All children "disappear" just before the dinner.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[subtitled version]
Christian Klingenfeldt: [on his cellphone] Christian speaking... Hi, I'm here now. I landed this morning. What? Er... Washed? I shaved at the airport if you must know. I shaved at the airport if you must know! I'm fine... right now I'm looking across the fields. At the land of my father. It's beautiful. It makes me want to move back for good, but that'd be problematical. I'll make it. Yes, I suppose it will be... shocking. What?... You're dropping out. O.K. Bye.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Le cinéma passe à table (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Skovens dybe stille ro

Provocative dialogue ensures rapt attention

Vinterberg's "Festen" which follows the strict guidelines of Dogma 95 could perhaps be hampered in its artistic approach, but not so here. Indeed with the hand-held camera the reality of the scene is intensified to such an extent one feels an integral part of the drama.

It's a family celebration of father Helge's 60th birthday. It's strange though that all the guests seem to arrive at the same time, speeding up the driveway in great excitement. There is lots of noise. hugs and kisses and the camera intruding in a mischievous way.

This family has some terrible dark secrets known to some, not to all. They are divulged by the eldest son Christian (Ulrich Thomson) in his dinner speech toasting his father. This is a wonderful scene, tense, sharp, riveting. The guests are shaken to the core. Is he telling the truth or is he having a wicked game with the assembled company? It's great stuff - really compelling drama.

The history of the family can be pieced together from information revealed in a series of toasts, but Christian's contribution renders the party speechless. It's a fairly noisy film with lots of people talking together, having arguments (Christian's brother Michael {Thomas Bo} has an uncontrollable temper) or screaming in frustration. These out bursts contrast so well with the scenes of stunned silence. They are quite electrifying moments - no words are necessary.

Films like this one make movie-watching well worthwhile. No wonder it won a Jury Prize.