The Celebration (1998)
“Festen”.
Drama
The Celebration is black comedy-drama film directed by Thomas Vinterberg and produced by Nimbus Film. With a budget of US$1.3 million, the film tells the story of a family gathering to celebrate their father’s 60th birthday. It is a dark comedy juggling subjects of death, trauma and family. Vinterberg was inspired to write it with Mogens Rukov, based on a hoax broadcast by a Danish radio station. It was the first Dogme 95 film, an artistic movement created by Danish directors Vinterberg and Lars von Trier. It won the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival in 1998.
A dark secret mars a Dane’s (Henning Moritzen) 60th birthday celebration, attended by his family (Ulrich Thomsen, Thomas Bo Larsen) and friends. A grandiose party to celebrate a sixtieth birthday unleashes a family drama with all the lies that conceal horrendous secrets. The eldest son, Christian, stages a showdown with the popular pater familias; his provocative, moving after-dinner speech dislodges all the masks, which finally fall completely as the father-son conflict intensifies and the bewildered guests look on.
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Writers: Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov
Stars: Ulrich Thomsen, Henning Moritzen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Trine Dyrholm, Gbatokai Dakinah, Paprika Steen, Helle Dolleris
►Cast:
Ulrich Thomsen | ► | Christian |
Henning Moritzen | ► | Faderen – Helge Klingenfeld |
Thomas Bo Larsen | ► | Michael |
Paprika Steen | ► | Helene |
Birthe Neumann | ► | Moderen – Else Klingenfeld |
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 |
John Boas | ► | Farfar – Grand-dad |
Erna Boas | ► | Farmor – Grandma |
Bent Henningsen | ► | Statister – Extra |
Poul Kajbæk | ► | Statister – Extra |
Vibeke Dalset | ► | Statister – Extra |
Janne Thomsen | ► | Statister – Extra |
Anette Jakobsen | ► | Statister – Extra |
Poul Petersen | ► | Statister – Extra |
Gulli Sejrsen | ► | Statister – Extra |
Vibeke Kaiser | ► | Statister – Extra |
John Johnsen | ► | Statister – Extra |
Dan Eilertsen | ► | Statister – Extra |
Søren Søgreni | ► | Statister – Extra |
Annette Jakobsen | ► | Statister – Extra |
Kate Goldschmidt | ► | Statister – Extra |
Jens Nørring | ► | Statister – Extra |
Bent Kaiser | ► | Statister – Extra |
Maria Myrgård | ► | Statister – Extra |
Peter Krag | ► | Statister – Extra |
Stig Poul Hansen | ► | Statister – Extra |
Kaj Rasmussen | ► | I Køkkenet – In The Kitchen |
Robert Strandgård | ► | I Køkkenet – In The Kitchen |
Gry Worre Hallberg | ► | I Køkkenet – In The Kitchen |
René | ► | I Køkkenet – In The Kitchen |
Christine Louise Jørgensen | ► | Børn – Children |
Dorte Olofsen | ► | Børn – Children |
Kasper Olofsen | ► | Børn – Children |
Emilian Sejersen | ► | Børn – Children |
Susanne Funck | ► | Børn – Children |
Rosmarie Jørgensen | ► | Børn – Children |
Lasse Jacobsen | ► | Børn – Children |
Sigrid Aalbæk Jensen | ► | Børn – Children |
Mikkel Jacobsen | ► | Børn – Children |
Birgitte Simonsen | ► | Christian’s Friend |
Thomas Vinterberg | ► | Taxi Driver |