Rent Festen (1998)
3.9 of 5 from 234 ratings
1h 40min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- 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 his three children, Christian, Michael and Helene support the party's festive mood by parading an impression of a happy and loving family. However, th 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.
- Actors:
- Ulrich Thomsen, Henning Moritzen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Paprika Steen, Birthe Neumann, Trine Dyrholm, Helle Dolleris, Therese Glahn, Klaus Bondam, Bjarne Henriksen, Gbatokai Dakinah, Lasse Lunderskov, Lars Brygmann, Lene Laub Oksen, Linda Laursen, John Boas, Erna Boas, Bent Henningsen, Poul Kajbæk, Vibeke Dalset
- Directors:
- Thomas Vinterberg
- Writers:
- Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov
- Others:
- Thomas Vinterberg
- Aka:
- Celebration
- Studio:
- Metrodome
- Genres:
- Drama
- Collections:
- A Brief History of Film Weddings: Part 3, Award Winners, Cinema Paradiso's Euro 24 Film Festival, Films & TV by topic, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 2, A Brief History of Film...
- Countries:
- Denmark
- Awards:
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Reviews (2) of Festen
A sad and disturbing drama - Festen review by JD
This feels older than 1998, the colour is in bland hues (not as depicted above). The characters certainly are not. They are so extreme that it is difficult to engage with them. The family is comprised of viciously mad, depressed and neurotic children an evil controlling father and a stupid gullible wife. Not easy watching. The family come together for the father's birthday party but there is no joy in this film. This is the sort of film that deservedly gets awards for originality, quality of acting and artistic merit but is watched by few.
2 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Danish Mad Dogs - Festen review by CH
Families…..we’ve all got them and we didn’t choose them. Trapped in those dark, dense sticky spiders webs of lies, silence and deceit, families grind us down with their power crazed games of one upmanship and emotional blackmail. Festen gathers together dysfunctional adult siblings at the Patriarchs 60th birthday party, where they resume their battles to be heard, to be understood and to be revenged, neatly picking up where they left off messily years ago. A Savage film that is not really viewing for the faint hearted.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.