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Festen
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Festen (1998) -- At Helge's 60th birthday party, some unpleasant family truths are revealed.

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   24,087 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 4% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Thomas Vinterberg (screenplay) &
Mogens Rukov (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Celebration on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 June 1998 (Denmark) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
Every family has a secret. more
Plot:
At Helge's 60th birthday party, some unpleasant family truths are revealed. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 24 wins & 15 nominations more
User Comments:
Provocative dialogue ensures rapt attention more

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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)
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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 CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

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)
more
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 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby

Fun Stuff

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. more
Goofs:
Plot holes: All children "disappear" just before the dinner. more
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.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Le cinéma passe à table (2005) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
I Skovens dybe stille ro more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
22 out of 26 people found the following comment useful:-
Provocative dialogue ensures rapt attention, 20 March 2003
8/10
Author: raymond-15 from Australia

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.

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Christian and dead sister Linda's relationship bryntilly
After watching this and Idioterne, I have come to the conclusion that... RossPrevention
the humor of Festen miss_sola
How can so many give this 1? henrik-1988
Question on Danish Culture sargasm1
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