Can a movie which seems to have been shot on DV cameras (which you can even hear recording) and that has shots where you can see the lens moving around be any good?
The story is about a big family who reunites to celebrate a birthday. As you slowly get to know the characters you realise that there are some very unique personalities present. Although you initially get the feeling that you might be watching something comedic, you slowly start to realise there is something darker going on beneath the surface. The moment it breaks through though you, just like the family, are stunned by what you hear and want to know what you are hearing is true or not.
Now this is a movie that’s in the IMDB top 250 and there is a reason for that. Despite the raw shots that are sometimes used it is the story that will pull you in and not let you go till the credits roll. This is a movie that deals with some very serious issues, like racism, abuse and suicide and manages to treat these subjects in a way that seems very real. It’s a wild ride full of emotion and pain.
Score: 9
I just LOVE this movie. The dialogue, the acting, the low-budget feel. The latter especially accentuates the film’s bitter and convincing realism and works in its favour. Though I think the film works best as a “F**k you” to Hollywood and mainstream cinema. A very moving, powerful movie.
Yeah, it’s a great movie Tyler! It indeed shows that you don’t need big budgets or fancy cameras to make something compelling.
This is one I’ve been meaning to stream on Lovefilm for awhile. I just recently watched von Trier’s The Idiots and that worked really well so looking forward to trying Festen now!
Haven’t seen The Idiots yet, but I probably will give that a chance!
Yeah man I need to see this. I remember TYLER banging on about it ages ago, and me promising I would watch it… I suck!
He’s right about it, so do try to see it Scott!
Stories about a family reunion can be quite intriguing, sounds like this one is one of them.
It is Ruth, it’s a dark story but very compelling to watch
For a movie that prides itself on realism and no-nonsense film-making, it’s strange that one of the things I remember best from it is one shot they use as someone is being chased to a spiral staircase. He starts to run up it, and the camera films from straight above and starts rotating as he goes. Then his pursuers catch up with him and drag him down, and the camera starts spinning the other way. It’s like a winding/unwinding motion that has really stuck with me for some reason.
But yeah, Festen is a great movie overall. Nice write-up!
I remember that shot and it looked very interesting. Thanks Emil!