[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Celebration_5287.jpg]]

TheCelebration (''Festen'') is a 1998 Danish movie directed by Thomas Vinterberg and was filmed according to the [[{{minimalism}} minimalist]] {{Dogme95}} guidelines.

Helge, a respected businessman, gathers his family and friends for his 60th birthday. Amongst the guests are his wife Elsa and his three children Christian, Helene and Michael. The family is still recovering following the suicide of Christian's twin sister Linda.

As guests arrive one-by-one, the action moves into the dining room where the celebration is about to begin. And then Christian stands up and prepares to make a speech. However, he gives his father a choice. Does he want a yellow speech or a green speech? After being coaxed by his guests, Helge settles on the green speech, which Christian has dubbed the "honest speech". The guests have no idea what kind of dark family secrets are going to see the light of day as Christian begins his speech...
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!!'''The Film Contains Examples Of:'''

* AwfulTruth
* BasedOnAGreatBigLie: Vinterberg stated that the story was inspired by story told by a caller to a phone-in show which subsequently turned out to be a hoaxer.
* BerserkButton: Helge... Christian... Michael... deeply suppressed rage runs deep in this family.
* BigScrewedUpFamily: It's like watching a a gigantic familial pile-up.
* BlackComedy: This is sometimes injected into conversations, often as a result of severe MoodWhiplash.
* BlackSheep: Subverted slightly by Helene.
* CallingTheOldManOut: The whole point of this movie.
* DrivenToSuicide: Linda.
* EnforcedMethodActing: Before the actual shooting, the cast lived in the villa for a week to become a psuedo-family, so their reaction to the revelation- which they weren't prepared for- would be more genuine.
* JerkAss: So many to choose from... but Michael remains undisputed king by the end of the movie.
* {{Minimalism}}: Well, it is a Dogme film.
* MoodWhiplash: You're laughing, you're cringing, you're creeped out, you're appalled, you're crying.. and hey, you're laughing again!
* [[spoiler: ParentalIncest]]
* RapeAsDrama
* [[spoiler:RetiredMonster]]: Helge
* SiblingRivalry: In spades.
* TheUnfavorite: Michael, again.
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Helge after Linda's letter is read out.]]
* WellDoneSonGuy: Michael takes this trope to disturbing levels.
* WhileRomeBurns: The film's all about denial, which is how a lot of the guests are still able to carry on partying despite the family's implosion.
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