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The Celebration

Original title: Festen
  • 19981998
  • RR
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
87K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,853
1,232
The Celebration (1998)
Home Video Trailer from October Films
Play trailer1:00
1 Video
81 Photos
Drama
At Helge's 60th birthday party, some unpleasant family truths are revealed.At Helge's 60th birthday party, some unpleasant family truths are revealed.At Helge's 60th birthday party, some unpleasant family truths are revealed.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
87K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,853
1,232
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Thomas Vinterberg(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Thomas Vinterberg(screenplay)
      • Mogens Rukov(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Ulrich Thomsen
      • Henning Moritzen
      • Thomas Bo Larsen
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Thomas Vinterberg(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Thomas Vinterberg(screenplay)
      • Mogens Rukov(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Ulrich Thomsen
      • Henning Moritzen
      • Thomas Bo Larsen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 288User reviews
    • 110Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 28 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Celebration
    Trailer 1:00
    The Celebration

    Photos81

    Thomas Bo Larsen, Lasse Lunderskov, and Ulrich Thomsen in The Celebration (1998)
    Ulrich Thomsen in The Celebration (1998)
    Henning Moritzen in The Celebration (1998)
    Gbatokai Dakinah, Thomas Bo Larsen, and Paprika Steen in The Celebration (1998)
    Trine Dyrholm and Ulrich Thomsen in The Celebration (1998)
    The Celebration (1998)
    The Celebration (1998)
    The Celebration (1998)
    The Celebration (1998)
    The Celebration (1998)
    The Celebration (1998)
    The Celebration (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ulrich Thomsen
    Ulrich Thomsen
    • Christian
    Henning Moritzen
    Henning Moritzen
    • Faderen
    Thomas Bo Larsen
    Thomas Bo Larsen
    • Michael
    Paprika Steen
    Paprika Steen
    • Helene
    Birthe Neumann
    • Moderen
    Trine Dyrholm
    Trine Dyrholm
    • Pia
    Helle Dolleris
    • Mette
    Therese Glahn
    • Michelle
    Klaus Bondam
    • Toastmasteren
    Bjarne Henriksen
    Bjarne Henriksen
    • Kokken
    Gbatokai Dakinah
    • Gbatokai
    Lasse Lunderskov
    • Onklen
    Lars Brygmann
    Lars Brygmann
    • Receptionisten
    Lene Laub Oksen
    • Søsteren
    Linda Laursen
    • Birthe
    John Boas
    • Farfar
    Erna Boas
    • Farmor
    Bent Henningsen
    • Statister
    • Director
      • Thomas Vinterberg(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Thomas Vinterberg(screenplay) (after an idea of)
      • Mogens Rukov(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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
      In an early scene, a cameraman can be seen reflected in a bedroom mirror (director Thomas Vinterberg noticed this but kept it in).
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      [subtitled version]

      Michael: Nice one, Dad. Good speech. Well done. But I think you'll have to go now so we can eat our breakfast.

      Faderen: Of course, of course.

      Faderen: [to his wife] Coming?

      Moderen: I'll stay here.

    • Alternate versions
      The DVD also contains an alternative ending.
    • Connections
      Featured in Bag om filmen 'Festen' (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      I Skovens dybe stille ro
      By Fritz Andersen

    User reviews288

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A highly creative piece of film-making
    I have seen this film more than I've bothered to keep track of. That's not to say that I've seen it an unusual amount of times(it's probably not more than three), just that I've never bothered to keep track. Anyway, my point is, every time, it's like seeing it for the first time. I keep discovering things that I must have noticed before, but don't remember seeing earlier. Tonight, I finally realized why; I'm blocking them out. I'm blocking out almost every single second of this film, and here's why; it reminds me of everything I hate about Denmark and being Danish. Everything strangers automatically associate me with, because I'm Danish. Not only does it remind me of it, the film flaunts it, without ever even considering holding back. The way we drink, how superficial we are, how dependent the typical grown male is of women, how racist and ignorant we are... everything. The film effectively airs our dirty laundry to the audience. On this latest viewing, I actually couldn't stand sitting through(a self-contradiction, I know) more than the first half hour... after which I casually followed the rest whilst sitting at my computer, from where I can see the TV screen... when I bother to stretch, so the computer monitor isn't blocking the view. Needless to say, I didn't catch an awful lot of it this way... but what I got was more than enough to disgust me. I can't think of any other movie I have this kind of relationship with... and I know why. I also know why this film has such an impact on me. It's because it's real. True. This is the kind of stuff you don't find in fiction... but in the newspaper, in your own family, in your own people, wherever you're from... the ugly side of us all. The shadow side. What we keep hidden from the outside world, but what we ultimately succumb to if we don't indulge it every once in a while. I chose to center my review for this film around this, because I think it's what really stands out about it. Also, I think we all, by now, know how great the acting, writing and direction is. And, being a Dogme film, it's very creatively filmed, too. So there you have it. A very creative film that puts so much focus on the shadow side of us all, of Danes in particular that is so effective that it actually makes me sick, me, a person who's been watching violent movies since I was twelve and was hardly ever affected by it. I recommend this to anyone who believe they can take it. Definitely not for the faint of heart or very sensitive people. Most people will probably have as strong a negative reaction to this as I did(unless they're far more grounded and at peace with who they are than I am), but don't let that deter you from seeing it. Chances are, you'll love it. If nothing else, you can't claim that it was fake or untrue. 10/10
    helpful•151
    46
    • TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
    • Jul 10, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 19, 1998 (Denmark)
    • Countries of origin
      • Denmark
      • Sweden
    • Languages
      • Danish
      • German
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Festen
    • Filming locations
      • Skjoldenæsholm, Sjælland, Denmark
    • Production companies
      • Nimbus Film Productions
      • Danmarks Radio (DR)
      • Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,300,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,656,223
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,657,778
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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