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“Festen” – movie review


The revelations in the movie seem to have a life of their own – they are unusually shocking, catatonic (for, it gags your conscience), caustic and self aggrandising. 

This movie is an example of daily routine elevated to the proportions of imminent catharsis. We are presented the happily smiling, familiarly nonchalant, abruptly impulsive, casual family members. Unlike other movies (or what common sense would have you believe), no one revelation drops on your plates, the many tentacles of vulgar emotions. Although the stupefying account of revelations stomp raucously through the hallways, kitchen and affects every single guest, the inevitable stay at the hotel makes it possible for a rare drama to unfold. One by one, revelations form tides of invisible emotions, and like the moist gum of a tree that slopes downwards, harden before they can be amended.

The scriptwriters marshaled the prickly pungent emotions in a logical order (which is not all together apparent), so the audience is strained with the hesitance of a lover. You fail to understand why the characters, all of them, are so silent. And, you fail to understand, why all the guests are still dining despite the revelations. 

Movie opens with a dinner party. Family is celebrating the sixtieth birthday of the old man. it appears as though the movie has been shot on a handheld camera; frame by frame, you get the feeling of watching a home made video. The scene where the old Man confronts his son, was to me, an unbearably rickety scene- at this point, we are not sure of the veracity of revelations. If there is truth in them, you must expect worse.

Cups are raised a second time and toast is made, “to father, who killed my sister” states the son as a matter of fact. With his cropped hair, looking a bit abstruse, he is one of the many powerful characters the movie bosoms. You will see that at the behest of pride, members of the family are torn by their own quirks and mannerisms. The charming young lady with her African boyfriend ; spoiled young brother, in his many sexual romps; eccentric brother with his unusual persistence of living the 'moment of a toast 'made yet again; the mendacious mannered chef and the slender limbed lady with her complaints- i thought, save few shortcomings, the performances have been admirable.

What is with stealing car keys? so the guests can stay back with no other alternative in the remote hotel; what is with the chef, why is he helping the son? A third time, and a fourth time, a toast is made. We are quite unsure of the allegations; however outrageous they may seem, there is still a nagging doubt left, not with regards to the content of the allegations, but the bearer of the allegations. As D..H.Lawrence once said "Trust the tale. Never trust the teller" the unreliable speeches made at the toast ,cast shadows on the protagonist' frame of mind. is it possible that perhaps an abuse did play a role in the protagonist’s childhood which might have affected his mental faculties.

Astonishing and rare vapours of indifference shroud the dinner table conversations throughout the length of the movie. Movie like none I have seen before.

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