The Celebration

Okay so let's tackle the OG Dogme 95 film: I've watched both this and Julien Donkey-boy this month so far, as part of my unexpected journey into this specific cinema phenomenon, and as much as I've said about the other film, I could say double as much here, but I'm going to attempt to be brief. Festen has by far one of the most brilliant uses of time in anything I've ever watched. Not a single line, not a single shot and most of all, not a single second is wasted here. It's so wonderfully devoid of filler that it has the unique opportunity of making every second count towards an immense emotional impact, for example THAT scene, the one towards the beginning during which I sat, mouth agape, staring at my screen. It's a wonderfully constructed drama, the type in which every character and every plotline is so interconnected you would think it would drive a viewer insane. But it doesn't. Festen keeps everything simple, clean and impactful (thank you Vinterberg for awknoledging how important handheld cameras are). Coupled with the almost Biblical revenge story and the vibes of an evil version of Succession, Festen builds towards being one of the best family dramas I've ever seen. In the sense that yes, it will make you as mad as dinner with your conservative relatives and yes it will leave you feeling just as isolated. No wonder I love Lars von Trier so much, this is so his style.