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Title: The Celebration (1998)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Ulrich Thomsen | ... | Christian | |
| Henning Moritzen | ... | Faderen - Helge Klingenfeld | |
| Thomas Bo Larsen | ... | Michael | |
| Paprika Steen | ... | Helene | |
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Birthe Neumann | ... | Moderen - Else Klingenfeld |
| Trine Dyrholm | ... | Pia | |
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Helle Dolleris | ... | Mette |
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Therese Glahn | ... | Michelle |
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Klaus Bondam | ... | Toastmasteren - Master of Ceremonies |
| Bjarne Henriksen | ... | Kokken - Kim | |
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Gbatokai Dakinah | ... | Gbatokai |
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Lasse Lunderskov | ... | Onklen - Uncle |
| Lars Brygmann | ... | Receptionisten - Receptionist | |
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Lene Laub Oksen | ... | Søsteren - Sister |
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Linda Laursen | ... | Birthe |
The Father turns 60. His family, which is a big one of the kind, gathers to celebrate him on a castle. Everybody likes and respects the father deeply...or do they? The youngest son is trying to live up to the father's expectations. He is running a grill-bar in a dirty part of Copenhagen. The oldest son runs a restaurant in France, while the sister is a anthropologist. The older sister has recently committed suicide and the father asks the oldest son to say a few words about her, because he is afraid he will break into tears if he does it himself. The oldest son agrees without argument. Actually he has already written two speeches. A yellow and a green one. By the table, he asks the father to pick a speech. The father chooses green. The oldest son announces that this is the Speech of Truth. Everybody laughs, except for the father who gets a nervous look on his face. For he knows that the oldest son is about to reveal the secret of why the oldest sister killed herself. Written by Jonas L.
"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.