Watch Celebration

Celebration is a Danish film directed by Thomas Vinterberg and released in the year 1998. This movie found its way to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in the same year, where it received widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Celebration is regarded as a landmark film in Danish cinema, credited with introducing the 'Dogme 95' manifesto, a unique style of filmmaking that emphasizes naturalism, candidness, and simplicity.

Celebration is centered around the birthday celebration of Helge Klingenfeldt-Hansen, a wealthy patriarch and the owner of a grand hotel. The guests include his wife Else, their three children, Christian, Michael, and Helene, and some friends and family members. The occasion is meant to be a celebration of Helge's 60th birthday, but the evening soon takes a turn towards chaos and unraveling secrets.

The film takes place during the course of a single day, from early morning until late at night, and most of it is set within the hotel where the family has gathered. From the outset, there is a palpable sense of tension, and the audience can sense that something terrible might happen. The sparring between the family members is evident from the start, with Christian being the most upfront and challenging of them all. He is returning to the hotel after a long hiatus following a traumatic incident in his childhood. All the while, he has been dealing with the aftermath of the sexual abuse he suffered as a child, inflicted by his father, Helge. Christian aims to expose this dark secret during the course of the evening.

The ensemble cast of the movie is a highlight, with each actor delivering a stunning performance to bring to life their respective characters. Ulrich Thomsen plays Christian, who dominates the screen with his simmering anger and deep-seated torment. Helge is played by Henning Moritzen, who portrays the character's superficial charm and insidious nature with aplomb. Else is played by Birthe Neumann, who provides the voice of reason and balance amidst the chaos. The supporting cast includes Paprika Steen as Helene, Michael's long-suffering wife, who desperately craves her husband's attention, while struggling to come to terms with his infidelity. Mogens Rukov, who plays Uncle Kresten, is a highlight with his deadpan humor and cutting wit.

The film is shot in a minimalist style, highlighting the natural look and feel of the location as per the Dogme 95 manifesto. The hand-held camera work gives a sense of spontaneity and urgency, adding to the film's realism. The cinematography by Anthony Dod Mantle and the music by Joachim Holbek complement the narrative and add to the overall tone of the piece.

What sets Celebration apart from other films is its unflinching honesty in portraying the dark underbelly of a supposedly perfect family. The dinner table conversation takes unexpected turns, and as the night progresses, secrets come out. The unraveling of the family's façade is messy, cruel, and, at times, shocking. Director Vinterberg does not shy away from showing the disturbing nature of child abuse and its impact on the victim and the family as a whole.

Another standout aspect of the Celebration is its commentary on class and wealth. The film showcases the wealthy and their desires, exposing the sense of entitlement that such privilege breeds. Helge uses his power and wealth to mask his crimes and maintain his position of dominance, while Michael, his son, cheats on his wife and carries on with his mistress while pursuing a career in business. The film exposes the fallacy of the American Dream, where money and power cannot buy happiness.

In conclusion, Celebration is an intense, powerful film that explores the complexity of family dynamics and the dark secrets they harbor. It is a commentary on wealth and privilege, with a focus on the corrupting nature of power. The film is a landmark in Danish cinema, introducing a unique style of filmmaking that emphasizes naturalism and candidness. The ensemble cast delivers an outstanding performance, with each actor contributing to the overall narrative. Celebration is a movie that will stay with you long after you have finished watching it.