Festen

1999 • 100 minutes

About this movie

Every family has a secret.
To celebrate his 60th birthday, family patriarch Helge Klingelfeldt throws a lavish dinner party for all his friends and family. After years of tense estrangement Helge is particularly anxious that all three of his children Christian, Michael and Helene support the party's festive mood by making a display of happy unity of the clan.
When dusk falls and the master of ceremonies introduces himself to announce that dinner is served, Christian raises his glass to what all the guests believe to be a poignant toast to his father. However, the eldest son's speech serves only to expose a secret that descends the celebration into a tragic and heartbreaking night that will never be forgotten.
Winner of the Cannes Jury Prize, Festen is the groundbreaking first Dogme film that has been hailed as one of the most inspirational films of recent times.

Ratings and reviews

Festen, is full of distractions - mostly in Danish and filmed under the strict Dogma rules (no artificial lighting nor sound). Add to that the (sub-)Standard Definition in this 99p rental. However it still blew my socks off and I have already seen it twice before. Very few films get close to the power of Festen. The story of dark family secrets is revealed very slowly and I watch in awe as a family celebration unravels in the most gut-wrenching way possible. As previously, it will take a few days to get this story out of my head. Highly recommended.

Synopis refers to film as 'comedy drama'. Drama yes, but l'd definitely remove the comedy reference. Totally inaproppriate! It is however a brilliant film. For unacknowledged adult survivors of abuse and family dysfunction this film will strike one hell of a cord!! Marvelous!!!

Any lead on where to watch / rent / download the film??