The Criterion Corner Episode 21 : THE CELEBRATION (1998)

Festen (also known as The Celebration) is a 1998 Danish dark 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.
Helge (Henning Moritzen), a respected businessman and family patriarch, is celebrating his 60th birthday at the family-run hotel. Gathered together amongst a large party of family and friends are his wife Else (Birthe Neumann), his sullen eldest son Christian (Ulrich Thomsen), his boorish younger son Michael (Thomas Bo Larsen), and his well-traveled daughter Helene (Paprika Steen). Another sibling, Linda, has recently taken her life at the hotel. Helene finds Linda's suicide note, but hides it in a medicine bottle after becoming upset by the undisclosed contents. Michael fights with his wife, whom he had earlier abandoned on the roadside with their three children, and then has sex with her. He later beats Michelle, a waitress of the hotel, after she pulls him aside to discuss that he had impregnated her in an affair.
#thecelebration #thomasvinterberg #dogme95 #festin #criterion #criterioncollection #criterionhaul

[@vestcoat]

Two for two, here as well. I rewatched The Hunt and then just had to find more from the director. So…just watched The Celebration. It is interesting and creative how both films weave the most heinous of acts..violating a child..throughout the story without any actual scenes of abuse… and making the ordinary behavior of mankind (how people react to accusations of sexual child abuse) as, or even more disturbing than the abusive behavior.
Very subtle scary.

[@natesfilmreviews]

It's a truly unsettling movie in every way. Amazing performances all around. I loved it so much.

[@franciscomendonca6295]

I'm also 2/2 but with DRUK

[@scipioafricanus5871]

@@franciscomendonca6295 a. k. a. "Another Round"

[@franciscomendonca6295]

@@scipioafricanus5871 I am watching the hunt when I received the notification about this comment... Weird 😯

[@calebcostigan2561]

Have you ever seen “Things to Come” with Isabelle Huppert?

[@natesfilmreviews]

I haven't! I will add it to my watchlist!

[@abieknutt7409]

Respect to you! use a service such as Promo'SM.