Trivia for
Festen (1998) More at IMDbPro »

• 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.
  
  
• During the dinner with the speech, it was hard for the cameramen to fulfill the Dogme-rule about the cameras being handheld. The solution was to let some of the guests at the table hold the cameras themselves.
  
  
• The film was declared to be the worst-dubbed movie released in 1999, in Germany.
  
  
• 28 March 1996:The Danish National Radio (DR) broadcasts "Koplevs Krydsfelt" where the anonymous caller "Allan" tells his story about an unusual speech he held at his step-fathers 60th birthday. One of the many listeners to this strange story is director Thomas Vinterberg who gathers inspiration to his first dogme movie.
  
  
• On 23 November 2002 Danish Radio found 'Allan' again. Allan met with director Thomas Vinterberg. During the interview it was revealed that Allan's entire story was pure fantasy. However, Allan had adopted the story from a true life experience of a Danish nurse. She held her speech on Christmas eve.
  
  
• Director Cameo: [Thomas Vinterberg] The taxi driver dropping off Helene's boyfriend, Gbatokai
  
  
• Thomas Vinterberg "confessed" to having covered a window during the shooting of one scene, which is a breaking of two Dogme rules - no bringing props onto the set, and no use of special lighting.
  
  

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