Festen (10th Year Anniversary Edition) [DVD] [1998]

I wasn't familiar with the Danish Filmmakers and Actors until I bought an Ole Christian Madsen 2008 Movie called "Flame and Citron", the code name of two members of the Holger Danske WWII Danish "Resistance" when the Nazi occupation of Denmark. An big surprise!Under the influence of this acquisition, last February I made a second one: "In a better World" from Susanne Bier. Another triumph!As my enthusiasm was growing I've risked two other Movies: "Brothers" and "Pusher Trilogy" both very good and the extraordinary and unmissable Series "The Killing"!Immediatly after "Brothers" came "Festen". A shot in the dark as I had no idea of what it was. A Winner of Cannes, the Critics were favourable, and that was all...I still remember saying: "what is this? Oh no!! not another "Blair Witch project" Please!!..." etc...etc...But while I was focused in that awful Camera, very week Picture and unconfortable method of Filming I was losing a Story!And after half an hour of suffering my option was stopping the Film and start seeing the "making off" and the interviews, so that I could at least understand the reason of that winning of a "Special Jury Prize" in Cannes, to know the Director Thomas Vinterberg, the Actors and the whole thing...Correct option! I was surprised after discovering that Director, Producer and Actors after seeing the final product reacted the same way I did!This had been a 'Team Experience' to try something new, but the results were not the expected...In spite of this they went to Cannes and won the 'Prize'! It's OK!So, instead of keeping on blaspheming I gave the Movie a second chance, hold my breath, started seeing it again and finally found an interesting Story and an even more interesting way of telling it!It wasn't an easy task but I've made it!!Epilogue:For the Story and the Acting ( They are really good Actors !) a four-star rating is fair.But the style of 'Dogme nº1' isn't at all the kind of Filmmaking that suits me! So, 1 star is enough for the 'foolish' Camera and the poor Picture! In 1998 lots of Movies were made with a much better photography!So, Why this?The "Independent" called it 'Pure Genius'...? I'm used to respect other People's opinions but if this is 'Pure Genius' I wonder what "The Killing" will be...!!If this is 'Pure Genius' forgive me but... I dare say I must be the "Virgin Mary"...!!!

Thomas Vinterberg’s shocking Festen (1998) is story first, and style a close second.During a Danish summer, Daddy (Henning Moritzen) is having his sixtieth birthday, and all the family have driven or flown back to the family mansion to celebrate. His children appear a touch unhappy, and one of their siblings have recently committed suicide. As the drinks flow tongues begin to wag.Festen was the first Dogme 95 film. Simply put, Dogme 95 was a manifesto created by Lars von Trier and Vinterberg. They set out to give back the power to the director and not the studio. Their basic rules for creating a film were: shooting must be done on location, the camera must be handheld, optical work and filters are forbidden, plus several others. These rules all appear in Vinterberg’s film. And whether you buy into the Dogme 95 manifesto or not, I felt I had a heightened experience because of it.The first thing to mention about this film is Anthony Dod Mantle’s innovative cinematography. It’s digital, blocky and feels just like you’re watching a video from a party you attended in the nineties. Another rule of Dogme 95 is: special lighting is not acceptable. Mantle has captured the light just right, again giving the film that non-studio look. Vinterberg’s and Mogens Rukov’s script is the cherry on the wonderful cake: it’s acidic, tight and holds no punches. In 2004 David Eldridge adapted it into a brilliant play. And finally the directing to the not credited Vinterberg: to kick off a manifesto with such ballsy brilliance is just shy of a masterpiece. There must have been something so liberating when directing this, as that freedom seeps out the screen. So bravo to the director.Festen is a superb piece of filmmaking and I really enjoyed watching it. It breaks the rules and tells you about it, but most importantly it concentrates on telling a compelling story.

Festen concerns the birthday of a wealthy Danish patriach. The whole family gathers in celebration(festen)at a large isolated hotel, just one year after the suicide of one of the daughters. The eldest son Christian has been invited to make a speach in honour of his father, but he has written two speeches, his father must choose...This film is a raw and searingly honest exploration of family dynamics, both the shadow and the golden. Made as part of the dogma 95 contract (no artificial lighting, music etc) the stripped down method completely suits the content of the film.As the contents of the speech are revealed so are the families skeletons in the cupboard, and with them all the denial and avoidance families use to try and keep harmony and avoid the painful truth.This film manages to open the wounds of the characters without cliche, and shows the festering underbelly of the protagonists without judgement, an amazing feat given the history involved.Because the filming technique is so close and raw, the clostrophobia of the situation is felt by the viewer and it is easy to feel as one of the guests,who would rather not be viewing the intimate unravelling of extended family, but in the same breath is struck by morbid curiosity as to how things will unfold.And when this is done, it is managed with real compassion, redemption and hope.Festen is not a comfortable film, but it does not abandon the viewer in this, rather is uses the pain to reach reselution and beauty. Just watch it.