1. Helge in Festen
We now travel from America to Denmark for our final douchebag dad. We find him in Thomas Vinterbergs 1998 film The Celebration (Festen). Rich and respected, Helge celebrates his 60th birthday in his family-run hotel. Friends and relatives gather to celebrate with the respected patriarch and his family. However there are many dark secrets that run through the familys history like poison. Daughter Linda, Christians twin sister, recently committed suicide at the hotel. As the film develops we notice how Christian (who is uneasy from the start) continually interrupts his fathers speeches with some awkward and devastating speeches of his own. We find out that Helge abused all his children. Christian is severely damaged, his brother is a chauvinistic asshole and his sisters suicide is a direct result of the abuse. Helge denies all these accusations and tries to keep the celebration going as normal. Due to Vinterbergs experimental film technique The Celebration feels like a messed up home movie, documenting the tyranny of Helge and the surreal display of denial that both Helge and the guests are guilty of. So there's our pick of the very best and of course very worst movieDads. Anyone we might have missed? Do let us know!
Maggy van Eijk
Contributor
I am a recent graduate with an MA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media.
Top 3 films: City of God, 21 Grams, Brick
Top 3 televison shows: In Treatment, Project Runway, Parks and Recreation
Top 3 books: Mysterious Skin, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Great Gatsby
Top 3 facts: I'm Dutch, I love sloths, I can do a cool trick with my shoulders
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Maggy