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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 | |
 |
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.
First of all, the home video camera style, casting and editing perfectly suited the subject matter and script. Wealthy and overbearing patriarch is feted on the occasion of his 60th birthday -- extended family and hangers-on gather with some of the best and worst aspects of our culture on display. It's also a rather sad occasion, as one of daddy's daughters killed herself not long ago, but several guests mention how "nice" the funeral was, and which room is mine? Eldest son rises to give a toast to the old man -- and out comes some unpleasantness that people would either prefer to pretend they didn't hear, or stuff forcefully back down his throat. Then the fun really starts.
Thanks to the cast for acting with restraint -- and being believable.
Some very black humour (including pathetic scenes of the decadent bourgeoisie at play), none of it gratuitous, some of it damning, some just outrageously funny. But this is not a light film in any sense. Guess what really happens when the victimised family member tells the truth? Ouch! What about when mommy gets to choose between husband and child? Double ouch!! And finally, when victim asks dad why he did it -- well, prepare for the blow to the old solar plexus...
Trust me, I know. This is how it really happens. It's good to see a well-crafted film (that gives its human themes paramount importance) on this subject. I'm tired of watching films which try to make me feel sorry for rich kids whose parents just don't understand how hard it is to be a rich kid with pimples.
As the families (one in ten?) with histories like this one can attest, being "dysfunctional" would have been a very happy place to be, compared to the reality as shown in this fine film.