The Celebration (1998) Festen (original title)

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:

Birthday | Speech | 60th Birthday | Celebration | Patriarch

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 27 wins & 16 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
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 Leick Jensen	....	production staff (as Signe Jensen)
Torben Stig Nielsen	....	production staff
Karina Strand	....	production staff
Camilla Thomsen	....	production staff
David C.H. Østerbøg	....	production staff (as David Østerbøg)

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)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (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)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• 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:

"Festen" - Denmark (original title)
"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:

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 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Denmark:11

Filming Locations:

Sjælland, Denmark

Company:

Nimbus Film Productions

Trivia:

Thomas Vinterberg "confessed" to having covered a window during the shooting of one scene, which is a breaking of two Dogme rules - no bringing props onto the set, and no use of special lighting.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: As the guests dance through the house, a boom mic can clearly be seen in the bottom left corner of the screen as they enter one of the rooms.

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:

Referenced in "Bertelsen - DR2s talkshow: Episode #1.2" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Jeg har set en rigtig negermand

There's Something Rotten in the State of Denmark...

"Festen" aka "The Celebration" was the impressive directorial debut of the young Danish filmmaker Thomas Vinterberg ("It's All About Love", "Dear Wendy"), and the first film made according to the rules of the daring Dogme 95 movement. It shows that you don't need big budgets to make a great film. However, Dogme wouldn't work if its films weren't as daring as its ideals of film-making - and "Festen" proved that those guys really have much to say.

"Festen" is an extremely cruel film, and it's somewhat uneasy to watch in some moments. The celebration of the title refers to the 60th birthday of Helge Klingenfeldt-Hansen (Henning Moritzen), who entertains his big family in his castle. But Helge's son, Christian (Ulrich Thomsen, excellent), whose twin sister recently committed suicide, has an important revelation that will surprise - and displease - many people; in the meantime, other secrets are revealed and nobody will get away clean. "Festen" deserved all praise/awards it got in international festivals (it won the Jury Prize at Cannes 98) and is a great introduction to Danish cinema. My vote is 10/10.