The Celebration
Festen
Thomas Vinterberg
© Mission distribution cinéma
A man gathers his family and friends at his country house for a day of celebration. His wife and their three children are there. The eldest, Christian, is asked by his father to say a few words during dinner about his twin sister, Linda, who died a year earlier. But when the time comes, Christian reveals some terrible secrets...
Cast : Henning Moritzen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Paprika Steen, Birthe Neumann, Trine Dyrholm, Helle Dolleris, Therese Glahn, Klaus Bondam, Ulrich Thomsen
Scenario: Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov
Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle
Sound: Morten Holm
Editing: Valdis Oskarsdottir
Music: Lars Bo Jensen
Scenario: Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov
Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle
Sound: Morten Holm
Editing: Valdis Oskarsdottir
Music: Lars Bo Jensen
Production : Nimbus films, Danemark Radio, SVT Drama
Distribution : Mission
Distribution : Mission
"Thomas Vinterberg’s second feature film, Festen, is part of the Dogme movement, created by Lars von Trier in 1995, which is based on fundamental principles of filmmaking such as the absence of artificial sets or lighting, a ban on time manipulation techniques, and the manual operation of the camera. In the space of a few hours and with raw realism, Festen depicts the breakdown of a family. Thomas Vinterberg states that he set out to explore "the claustrophobic and stifling nature of the family". "I must admit that I’m rather drawn to the traditional family structure, having grown up in a community that ignored it. The family survives, united, eternal. It is the only institution in life that we do not choose, and that we cannot destroy. It’s fascinating." (Thomas Vinterberg)""