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The Guest

1 hr. 39 min. | Drama | Pegi 13

A quiet weekend by the sea. New parents Karl and Emilie are preparing a celebration at which they will reveal their baby’s name to family and friends. On the eve of the gathering, Karl learns that his sister has also invited their mother. He has not spoken to her in years, but his sister urges him to give her a second chance. Although she once suffered severe mental health crises, her condition is now managed with medication. The Guest feels like a spiritual successor to Festen, the film that inaugurated Dogme 95. Here, damaging family dynamics and old resentments are joined by a complex exploration of mental illness. The film received the Special Jury Prize at Karlovy Vary, where Mengel was also named Best Director.