Festen

Plot Summary

Every family has a secret. 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 all three of his children Christian, Michael and Helene support the partys festive mood by making a display of happy unity of the clan. When dusk falls and the master of ceremonies introduces himself to announce that dinner is served, Christian raises his glass to what all the guests believe to be a poignant toast to his father. However, the eldest sons speech serves only to expose a secret that descends the celebration into a tragic and heartbreaking night that will never be forgotten. Winner of the Cannes Jury Prize, Festen is the groundbreaking first Dogme film that has been hailed as one of the most inspirational films of recent times.