The Celebration Blu-ray Review

The Criterion Blu-ray release of "The Celebration" showcases the film in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and rendered in 1080p resolution. This release is a product of meticulous restoration work, involving a 2K digital transfer initiated by the Danish Film Institute and Nimbus Film, utilizing an MWA Flashtransfer Vario film scanner from a 35mm answer print. The digital intermediate was constructed from original DigiBeta tapes, preserving the film's unique visual style inherent to Dogme 95 parameters. Restoration and scanning were conducted by experts like Miakel Braae and Nikolaj Fogh-Nielsen, ensuring integrity in visual presentation despite the source material's limitations.

The Blu-ray embraces the intended stylistic anomalies from Dogme 95's orthodoxy, including inconsistent depth and clarity. Deliberate underexposure and handheld miniDV camerawork contribute to the film's distinctive, immersive feel. While transitioning from digital tape to 2k allows for minor enhancements in detail, the format cap holds back potential sharpness. Colors are subdued, with occasional vibrant greens, reds, and yellows punctuating the predominant muddy palette, reflecting Thomas Vinterberg's narrative style effectively.

This transfer provides an authentically unpolished aesthetic that amplifies the acute tension and drama dictated by Vinterberg's direction. The Criterion release achieves a remarkable balance, capturing the raw authenticity of early digital consumer video while refining areas permissible through restoration. It respects the filmmaker's original vision by replicating Dogme 95’s visual constraints. Despite technical confines, the image stability remains proficient, delivering an accurate portrayal of "The Celebration," with its deep-seated emotions effectively conveyed through unorthodox visual fidelity.

The Blu-ray release of "The Celebration" is accompanied by a single Danish LPCM 1.0 audio track, featuring a few exchanges in English. This choice adheres to the Dogme 95 manifesto, emphasizing lo-fi, unfiltered organic sounds. The soundtrack refrains from any post-production enhancements, preserving uneven fluctuations captured by on-set recording equipment. While the dynamic intensity remains quite average, there are no encoding anomalies detected.

This audio presentation is notably dialogue-centric, predominantly occupying the center channel. The film makes effective use of raw, on-location audio without any pre-recorded music, reinforcing its commitment to the austere style demanded by Dogme 95 principles. As a result, dialogue exchanges are distinct and clear, although some echo can be discerned, particularly in larger environments like the lodge hall.

Audio quality remains consistent with the film's lo-fi aesthetic, where clipping happens precisely when shots cut, underscoring director Vinterberg’s strict adherence to not overlaying audio tracks. Overall, while the Danish LPCM Mono track may present inherent native constraints and occasional unevenness, it fittingly complements the film's stylistic goals, providing an authentic auditory experience aligned with its original artistic intent.

The Blu-ray release of "The Celebration" offers an extensive and insightful exploration into the Dogme 95 movement and the film's production through a rich collection of extras. Highlights include a detailed archival commentary by director Thomas Vinterberg, where he elaborates on the creation of "The Celebration" and its adherence to Dogme 95 principles. Interviews from various years provide perspectives on his career and relationships with pivotal figures like Lars von Trier. Deleted scenes offer an intriguing glimpse into alternative narrative paths, enhanced with optional commentary. The package is rounded out by a variety of documentaries and featurettes that contextualize both the film and the influential Dogme 95 manifesto, alongside historical documentaries and short films by Vinterberg that predate his work on "The Celebration", offering a comprehensive view for fans and cinephiles alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: Remastered vintage trailer for "The Celebration."
• Thomas Vinterberg: Interview discussing his career, Dogme 95, and Lars von Trier.
• Commentary: Archival commentary by Thomas Vinterberg about Dogme 95 and production.
• Deleted Scenes: Collection of optional commentary-enhanced deleted scenes.
• Behind the Scenes: Documentary featuring interviews during the film's premiere.
• Disclosure of The Celebration: Archival program detailing the inspiration for the film.
• The Purified: Documentary on the Dogme 95 movement with interviews.
• ADM: DOP: Cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle discusses his methods.
• The Celebration in Retrospect: Focus on production and success with interviews.
• Short Films: Includes "The Last Round" and "The Boy Who Walked Backwards."
• Booklet: 20-page booklet featuring an essay by Michael Koresky.

Thomas Vinterberg's "The Celebration" (Festen), an inaugural entry in the Dogme 95 movement, arrives on Blu-ray from Criterion with a vivid restoration that honors the film’s raw authenticity. The narrative centers on a seemingly ordinary family gathering in Denmark to celebrate Helge Klingenfeld’s 60th birthday, but transgresses into a disturbingly revealing affair as dark secrets emerge. Helge's eldest son, Christian, shatters the facade of familial harmony by disclosing past abuse during a toast—a moment that escalates into a visceral confrontation, unraveling lifelong deceptions amidst a veneer of propriety. The film juxtaposes classical narrative elements with an intense emotional palette that invites comparisons to both theatrical drama and reality television's unpredictable melodrama.

In keeping with the Dogme 95 strictures, Vinterberg employs consumer-grade Sony equipment to capture the film's unembellished aesthetic. This approach eschews artificial lighting and optical manipulation, instead opting for a handheld, on-location style that imbues the film with a distinct, gritty realism. This commitment to 'purity' enhances the viewing experience by anchoring the intense performances in an atmosphere of disconcerting authenticity. While this rawness might seem amateurish to some audiences, it effectively enhances the narrative's thematic potency, bringing to the forefront the volatile emotional eruptions within the Klingenfeld family.

"The Celebration" not only marks a significant milestone for Dogme 95 but also for cinema itself through its daring narrative and stylistic choices. Vinterberg's direction articulates a clear vision of emotional disturbance, set against the backdrop of societal conventions, delivering a masterful exploration of familial dysfunction peppered with dark humor. The film establishes a haunting resonance by maintaining a fine balance between explosive confrontations and subdued moments of reflection—showcased in its unyielding portrayal of internalized guilt and collective denial.

The Criterion Collection’s Blu-ray release of "The Celebration" is a riveting exploration of Thomas Vinterberg’s powerful contribution to the Dogme 95 movement. The film utilizes a raw, verité style, stripped of traditional cinematic polish, conveying an unfiltered emotional depth reminiscent of contemporary reality television and internet culture. The grainy handheld camera work decisively captures the film's unique narrative intensity, providing audiences with an immersive viewing experience that feels both unsettling and cathartic. The artistic integrity of Vinterberg's work is maintained in this Blu-ray edition, ensuring that the film's stark portrayal of tumultuous family dynamics resonates as vividly as intended.

Technically, Criterion delivers a commendable A/V package that respects the film's aesthetic nuances. The transfer reproduces the original visual texture with fidelity, engaging viewers in the deliberately chaotic cinematography that characterizes the film. Furthermore, the collection is enriched with a well-curated selection of new and archival bonus features, offering deeper insights into the film’s creative process and its thematic undertones. Such additions not only enhance the viewing experience but also serve to contextualize "The Celebration" within both the Dogme 95 manifesto and Vinterberg’s broader oeuvre.

In summary, "The Celebration" is a uniquely provocative narrative that leverages Danish cultural restraint against an eruptive family saga. While opinions may vary regarding its classification as a masterpiece, its impact remains undeniable. The Criterion two-disc set emerges as an essential acquisition for enthusiasts of groundbreaking cinema and admirers of Vinterberg’s quest to capture discomfiting truths. This release achieves a balance of preserving the film's raw edginess while celebrating its artistic contribution, thereby earning a strong recommendation for both seasoned cinephiles and newcomers to Dogme 95 films.