THE CELEBRATION  (1998)  ***1/2

Reviewed 10/11/98

This very black comedy-drama by 29-year old Thomas Vinterberg operates on the Dogma 95 rules, which I think are idiotic. The Dogma 95 rules are basically restrictions created by Lars Von Trier (Breaking the Waves) to get at a purer cinema closer to reality and includes such rules as that the camera must be handheld, filters and gels cannot be used, only location light and sound are allowed, only props already found at a particular location can be used, etc. To me there is no such thing as a purer cinematic style and these restrictions are more or less arbitrary. That said, I found the style of The Celebration to be invigorating, not because of Von Trier's theory, but because it worked so well with the content. The story involves a family celebrating the 60th birthday of their patriarch and the subsequent secrets that come out. The comedy comes from the absurdity of these very bourgeois characters thrown into a situation so embarrassing and shameful that their social mores cannot rescue them. The film was shot on video first, then transferred to film.  The rapid jump-cut style takes a little getting used to, but after a while, it works to wonderful effect.