Festen (1998)

Writers:

Thomas Vinterberg (idea)
Thomas Vinterberg (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:

Retribution | Toast | Spontaneous Sex | Racial Slur | Restaurant Owner

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 24 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Ulrich Thomsen	...	Christian Klingenfeldt
Henning Moritzen	...	Faderen / Father Helge Klingenfeldt-Hansen
Thomas Bo Larsen	...	Michael
Paprika Steen	...	Helene
Birthe Neumann	...	Moderen / Mother
Trine Dyrholm	...	Pia
Helle Dolleris	...	Mette
Therese Glahn	...	Michelle
Klaus Bondam	...	Toastmasteren / Master of Ceremony Helmut
Bjarne Henriksen	...	Kokken / Cook
Gbatokai Dakinah	...	Gbatokai
Lasse Lunderskov	...	Onklen / Uncle
Lars Brygmann	...	Receptionisten / Receptionist
Lene Laub Oksen	...	Søsteren / Sister
Linda Laursen	...	Birthe
John Boas	...	Farfar / Grandfather
Erna Boas	...	Farmor / Grandmother
Bent Henningsen	...	Extra
Poul Kajbæk	...	Extra
Vibeke Dalset	...	Extra
Janne Thomsen	...	Extra
Annette Jakobsen	...	Extra
Poul Petersen	...	Extra
Gulli Sejrsen	...	Extra
Vibeke Kaiser	...	Extra
John Johnsen	...	Extra
Dan Eilertsen	...	Extra
Søren Søgreni	...	Extra
Kate Goldschmidt	...	Extra
Jens Nørring	...	Extra
Bent Kaiser	...	Extra
Maria Myrgård	...	Extra
Peter Krag	...	Extra
Stig Poul Hansen	...	Extra
Kaj Rasmussen	...	Kitchen Assistant
Robert Strandgård	...	Kitchen Assistant
Gry Worre Hallberg	...	Kitchen Assistant
René	...	Kitchen Assistant
Christine Louise Jørgensen	...	Girl
Dorte Olofsen	...	Girl
Kasper Olofsen	...	Boy
Emilian Sejersen	...	Boy
Susanne Funck	...	Girl
Rosmarie Jørgensen	...	Girl
Lasse Jakobsen	...	Boy
Sigrid Aalbæk	...	Girl
Mikkel Jakobsen	...	Boy
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		(idea)
Thomas Vinterberg		(screenplay) &
Mogens Rukov		(screenplay)

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

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

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eigil Jacobsen	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Thomas Casperen	....	daily synchronization
Jan Gundtofte-Bruun	....	daily synchronization
Morten Holm	....	sound
Bruno Langiano	....	foley artist
Ad Stoop	....	boom operator
Søren Bjerregaard-Ryan	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Hjorth	....	additional camera
Peter Hjorth	....	technical supervisor

Stunts
Thomas Bo Larsen	....	stunts

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

Editorial Department
Vagn Rose	....	assistant editor

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

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

Production Companies

• Danmarks Radio (DR)
• Nimbus Film Productions
• SVT Drama

Distributors

• Alfa Films (Argentina)
• Arthaus Filmverleih (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Atalanta Filmes (Portugal)
• Budapest Film
• Cinemien (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 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 Danmark (Denmark)
• Triangelfilm (Sweden)
• Versátil (Brazil) (DVD)

Also Known As:

The Celebration (UK) (USA)
Dogme # 1 - Festen (Denmark) (series title)
Dogme 1 (Denmark)

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 | 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:

Skjoldnæsholm, Jystrup Midtsj, Denmark

Company:

Danmarks Radio (DR)

Trivia:

Since this is a Dogme-film, there cannot be any non diegetic (artificial) sounds added, no post-production. The camera also needs to be hand-held. So when Christian falls to the floor in the reception and sees his sister, Christian himself had to hold the camera when falling. To achieve the "dizzy" sound, the original cameraman swung the microphone around in the air.

Goofs:

Continuity: The sister takes the sheet from one of the chairs twice as she uncovers the furniture.

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:

References Drenge (1977)

Soundtrack:

Wedding Waltz

God bless the Dogme 95!

I always wanted to watch "Festen" since I knew about the Dogme 95. As any Danish movie, it was released in a unique cultural theater. And, as most of the European movies, in less than 3 weeks, it wasn't...

OK, you'll tell the truth: I don't know why but I didn't watch it on a theater, and I could have done it. I waited for its release in video but all the times I went to the videostore I forgot to rent it. But one year after the release on theaters, it was rolling in Eurochannel (a cable-TV channel. It's all about Europe). I couldn't miss that chance so, on a Friday night, at 22:00, I finally watched it. And what an AMAZING film!!!

At first, the plot seems interesting and simple but after 20 minutes you finally realize how strong and provocative Festen really is. It's about one celebration made by the patriarch of the family Kingenfelt in the hotel where he lives. He's commemorating his 60 years. Christian, the older son, makes a speech where secrets are revealed.

The rules of the Dogme 95 as the use of natural light, camera in the hands, etc, help to create a claustrophobic and confidential clime, like nobody knows that someone is filming them. The scenes look incredibly real. Paprika Steen (Helene) and Ulrich Thomsen (Christian) were more than extraordinary. Paprika is a great actress and I can't stand waiting to watch "Idiotern", the second Dogme, in which she's acting again.

"Festen" is not just a worth watching film. It's a worth watching, re-watching, watching again, renting many times and recording to watch it a hundred times. Being the first Dogme, it's a mark in the cinema's history.

Grade - A+