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.
The take
Whilst a classic in some circles, Festen is many things, but it's definitely not mainstream entertainment. It was shot by Danish director, Thomas Vinterberg, who founded the Dogme 95 movement together with Lars von Trier in 1995, which sought to put the auteur director back at the heart of filmmaking, as opposed to the power of the studios or special effects. This was the first movie to come out from that group. You thought your family was messed up? Think again. This macabre, Poe-esque, gut-wrenching tale of debauchery will leave you feeling confused and slightly nauseous. This effect is exacerbated by Winterberg's directing style and the crazy camerawork of Anthony Dod Mantle. With a highly volatile tone and a great cast, the effect Festen has on you is not easily shaken off.
Comments
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Breaking the Waves (1996)
Lars von Trier breaks his rules in the tearjerking first film of the Golden Heart trilogy
8.1
The Guilty (2018)
A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.
9.0
The Idea of You (2024)
A smart albeit dry romantic comedy that unwittingly contradicts its empowering message
6.9
The Tearsmith (2024)
A porn storyline with “adopted siblings” and “Wattpad” as its main tags
3.5
Lust, Caution (2007)
A wartime spy falls for a collaborator in this erotic espionage drama
7.3
Idiots and Angels (2008)
Miserable scoundrel transforms into unwilling good-doer in this strange and cynical animated comedy
7.0
Prom Dates (2024)
A cute but ultimately cliched take at the “night before prom” teen film
6.7
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)
A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.
8.1
Forgotten Love (2023)
The stunning third take of the classic Polish pre-war melodrama
7.7
Cleaners (2019)
A weird and wonderful coming-of-age anthology featuring classic moments in 2000’s Philippine high schools