Saturday, April 7, 2012

The Celebration (Festen)



The end of the year holidays remind us that, behind those toasts in which we celebrate that we are all so good and that we don’t want or ask for that much, it often hides the truth that reflect all the vices that can develop a precarious human condition. And though these truths rarely come to the surface, sometimes a kamikaze dives the toast and decides to unveil the harsh reality.


That happens in "The Celebration", a wonderful film that shows us the catharsis that occurs in a family that appears to be perfect, but that has been built on the foundations of unhealthy abuse, fear and contempt for human dignity.


To celebrate the 60 years anniversary of respectable Mr. Helge, his family has decided to meet. There are Christian, the eldest son, Helena, the daughter of a revolutionary past and a bohemian present, Michael, the youngest son, who has always been rejected by his father, and a large cut of cousins, nephews and grandchildren are present too.

Who is not present is Christian's twin sister, who committed suicide months ago. In the middle of the lavish celebration, Christian reveals a couple of secrets that trigger a drama in the style of Edward Albee.


Shot with camera in hand, and no special effects or soundtrack, this film is one of the best exponents of the “Dogma 95” movement. Winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes, it exposes relentlessly the imperfections that cover the human soul and that we all strive to hide.


Writers: Thomas Vinterberg (screenplay), Mogens Rukov (screenplay)
Stars: Ulrich Thomsen, Henning Moritzen and Thomas Bo Larsen

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