IMDb > Festen (1998)
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   25,018 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 1% in popularity this week. See why 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:
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:
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 24 wins & 15 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(6 articles)
Christmas and new year TV films
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 18 December 2009, 5:30 AM, PST)

Christmas and new year TV films
 (From The Guardian - TV News. 18 December 2009, 5:30 AM, PST)

User Comments:
There's Something Rotten in the State of Denmark... more (207 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Celebration (UK) (USA)
Dogme # 1 - Festen (Denmark) (series title)
Dogme 1 (Denmark)
Festen (UK)
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:
Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

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. 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:
Referenced in En kort en lang (2001) more
Soundtrack:
I Skovens dybe stille ro more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
19 out of 22 people found the following comment useful.
There's Something Rotten in the State of Denmark..., 26 July 2006
10/10
Author: Aluísio Parondi (nem.freud.explica@gmail.com) from Winooski, Vermont, USA

"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.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Festen (1998)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
what specifically shocked u about this film and why? alanaramsey
How can so many give this 1? henrik-1988
Christian and dead sister Linda's relationship bryntilly
After watching this and Idioterne, I have come to the conclusion that... RossPrevention
reaction of the guests damdin
Similar Films? ryanmccauley211
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