Opera Essentials: Festen

At the hotel owned by Helge and Else Klingefeldt, Christian, their eldest son is the first to arrive for the 60th birthday party of Helge, the family patriarch. He takes a phone call in reception and talks about how he is now two years sober.

Christian’s estranged younger brother Michael arrives arguing with his wife Mette, and their three children. Lars, the hotel receptionist, tells a frustrated Michael that he’s not on the list because things got out of hand last time he was there.

Shortly after, Christian and Michael’s sister Helena arrives, and immediately rebukes Michael for missing the funeral of their sister – and Christian’s twin – Linda. Helena and Michael begin to argue, before Christian interjects, asking for civility. Else, Helge’s wife and the siblings’ mother, enters, greeting her children before excusing herself to greet the arriving guests.

The guests, who are friends, family and business associates, greet each other, before calling out for Helge. When Helge appears, Helmut, the master of ceremonies, leads everyone in singing a Danish birthday song. Once finished, Helge instructs them to get ready for dinner. As the guests disperse, Helge approaches Christian and asks him to say a few words about Linda during dinner. Christian assures his father that he is prepared. A member of hotel staff, Pia, approaches Christian and flirts with him. Exhausted, Christian suggests they go to his room.

In Michael’s room, the children are jumping on the bed and Mette sends them off to see their Grandpa. In Christian’s room, Pia makes an advance to which he is indifferent. Christian falls asleep. Michael discovers his shoes are missing and he and Mette hurl insults at each other. Helena and Lars arrive in the room where Linda died.

Mette and Michael make up and begin to have sex. Helena and Lars search for any clues Linda may have left them before she died. They find a letter in Linda’s bathroom door.

Ready to return to work, Pia gives Christian a kiss, but he does not wake. Helena begins  to read the letter, but stops, breaking down. Loud bangs on the door interrupt Michael and Mette – their children call out for them. Mette opens the door to them. Helena is in shock. The deceased Linda appears from the bathtub, with her wrists cut. Christian calls for Pia.

Helmut reads a prepared speech to the guests before Helge reflects on his life and his family. In the kitchen, the Chef and his staff prepare to serve the soup. All the guests find their place at the dinner table. Helge asks Michael to behave himself.
One of the servers, Michelle, approaches Michael, and says she needs to talk to him. He rebuffs her. Guests in the dining room remark on how hot it is in there and what kind of soup they are having.

Helmut asks Christian to start off the evening’s toasts. Christian begins, revealing his and Linda’s longstanding sexual abuse at the hands of Helge. The guests are silent, before Christian’s Grandpa stands up and begins his own toast.

Christian leaves and goes to the kitchen. Helena apologises to the guests, asking them not to take Christian seriously. The Chef urges Christian to go back in and continue. Christian goes back into the dining room. The Chef instructs Lars, Pia and Michelle to gather the guests’ car keys, telling them that no one is leaving the celebration.

In the lobby, a Black man, Gbatokai, arrives with his case. Michael intercepts him and makes several racist remarks. Helena enters and kisses Gbatokai, who is her boyfriend. Furious, Michael rebukes Helena for bringing him to their father’s party. Else enters and is introduced to Gbatokai. In the dining room, Christian stands, telling the guests he’d like to apologise. But as he raises his glass, he continues to denounce his father. Helmut proposes a break. Wanting to leave, the guests search for their keys and ask for a taxi. In the dining room, Helge approaches Christian, telling him he doesn’t remember what he is talking about. He tells him to behave himself and that his revelations won’t ruin the party.

As guests return to the dining room for the second course, Michelle pulls Michael aside in the lobby and reveals that she became pregnant after sleeping together the previous year. Michael tells Michelle she’s fired. Michelle slaps him and Michael punches her, before returning to the dining room. More wine is poured for the guests.

Helmut introduces Else to speak. She gives a speech, denying Christian’s accusations and citing his imagination as a child. She asks him to apologise for his speech. Christian refuses to apologise, instead revealing his mother’s complicity in the abuse. Michael grabs Christian, and he and Leif take him out of the room. Their Grandma begins to sing a folk song, but Christian returns to the dining room to say more. Leif and Michael grab Christian, beat him up and lock him in the wine cellar.

Helena and Gbatokai want to know where Michael has put Christian. Michael refuses to tell them. Michael stands up to give a toast, apologises for the previous misunderstanding and then leads the guests in a song insulting Gbatokai. Helena yells at them to stop, but everyone joins in.

Gbatokai confronts Michael then leaves the room with Helena. Pia joins them, and Helena asks her to retrieve her pills from her room. Christian breaks out of the wine cellar. Helmut starts a Conga. Pia brings Helena her wash bag and when taking the pills out to give to her, Linda’s letter falls out. Christian picks the letter up, reads it and passes it to Helena.

As the Conga finishes, Helmut calls for dessert and introduces Helena for the last toast. Helena stands and reads the letter – a suicide note from Linda confirming Helge’s abuse. Michael stands up in anger, finally believing the revelations. Helge asks for Helena to be poured a glass of port, but nobody moves. Christian asks Helge why he did it and is told it was all he deserved. Helge walks out. Helmut instructs everyone to take coffee next door.

Helge hides in the kitchen, but Michael finds him. Michael brutally beats his father, telling him he and Else will never see their grandchildren again. In the lounge, Christian is sitting on the sofa when the deceased Linda appears.

Guests arrive for breakfast, greeting each other. Helge enters and the guests greet him.