The big birthday party of sixty-year-old pater familias Helge is derailed when son Christian makes a shocking announcement about his father in his speech. The mood changes radically.
Festen was the first film to be made according to the Dogma 95 rules: filmed as naturally as possible, without sets, props or music. It forced the filmmakers to focus on the drama. And it worked: a minute-long ovation followed the premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
