#festen

Festen (1998) - Thomas Vinterberg

Before I go, I would like it known that I'm unable to swallow food in the same room as this priest. Enjoy your evening. 

it's hard hitting and visceral and really shows just how much people fucking hate victims and how The Family as a unit comes together to silence and ostracize them.

in laura's case, she makes up BOB as a coping mechanism, bc it's easier to think it's a monstrous figure rather than her own father, and in christian's case, his mother uses the fact that he had an imaginary friend as a child to discredit him when he exposes his father for raping him and his sister.

(updated as of 23 May 2026)

Danny is such a cinephile I thought I'd compile all his film recommendations in one resource post. He personally set me on the Alain Delon path and while I found Rocco And His Brothers too melodramatic for my taste, I've seen six other Delon films that just blew me away—Le Samouraï one of them.

He often cites inspirations when preparing for a project but I've been very careful to add only those he outright praises. Sometimes, you only like a certain aspect of a film—perhaps the aesthetic or the pacing—and not the film as a whole. Knowing how drastically tastes can change over the years, I also didn't include those he mentioned loving when he was still young, like Pulp Fiction. He could still like it but I just didn't want to make the assumption. Anyhoo, contributions (with sources) are most welcome. Will update this list with every addition. He's mentioned WAY more, these are just the verified ones.

MOVIE LIST WITH SOURCES:

NOTE: I second the ones highlighted in green.

To Be Or Not To Be (1942)

Shoeshine (1946)

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

The 400 Blows (1959)

Breathless (1960) ~58:18 of 1:08:18

The Apartment (1960)

Rocco and his Brothers (1960)

Le Samouraï (1967)

The Things of Life (1970)

The Emigrants (1971)

Cría Cuervos (1976)

Taxi Driver (1976)

Raging Bull (1980)

Paris, Texas (1984)

Festen (1998)

In The Mood For Love (2000)

Talk To Her (2002)

No Country For Old Men (2007)

The White Ribbon (2009)

A Prophet (2009)

Wild Tales (2014)

Boyhood (2014)

Force Majeure (2014) ~19:38 of 29:55

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)

Shoplifters (2018)

Parasite (2019)

Another Round (2020)

A Chiara (2021)

Past Lives (2023)

The Zone of Interest (2023)

Perfect Days (2023)