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   25,012 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:
A highly creative piece of film-making 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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Create a character page for: ?

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:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film was declared to be the worst-dubbed movie released in 1999, in Germany. 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:
Featured in Bag om filmen 'Festen' (1998) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Brudevalsen more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
49 out of 60 people found the following comment useful.
A highly creative piece of film-making, 10 July 2005
10/10
Author: Grann-Bach (Grann-Bach@jubii.dk) from Denmark

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

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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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