Every summer, the historic spa town is taken over by young Czech film enthusiasts who flock to the city to take part in the festival atmosphere alongside the many international film industry guests who attend from around the world.
Mads Mengel’s debut feature film, 'The Guest', has been selected for the prestigious Crystal Globe Competition, where it will have its world premiere. This marks the first time since 2014 that a Danish feature film has been selected for the festival’s main competition, where it will compete for the festival’s top prize, the Grand Prix Crystal Globe. In 2008, Henrik Ruben Genz won the coveted award with his feature film 'Terribly Happy'.
The family drama 'The Guest' is written by Christian Bengtson and Mads Mengel and produced by Victor Cunha for Monolit Film. The film stars Trine Dyrholm, Simon Bennebjerg and Josephine Park in the three leading roles. The cast also includes Peter Gantzler, Kristine Kujath Thorp, Petrine Agger and Mette Klakstein Wiberg.
'The Guest' has been supported by the Danish Film Institute’s talent scheme, New Danish Screen.
The film will be distributed by Scanbox Entertainment and is scheduled for Danish theatrical release on 26 November. International sales are handled by LevelK.
About the Film
'The Guest' is a warm, humorous and moving drama about the strong bonds of family, the painful traumas of childhood, and forgiveness.
The day before Karl and Emilie’s son’s naming celebration at Marienlyst Strandhotel, an uninvited guest appears: Karl’s mother, Vibeke, whom he has not spoken to in years. She is determined to re-enter Karl’s life and prove herself as both a grandmother and a mother. Karl and his sister Rikke are concerned about their mother, and Rikke reluctantly invites her to join the family gathering. What follows is a weekend in which painful memories resurface and long-buried family dynamics emerge once again. As tensions rise and an inevitable confrontation looms, glimmers of hope begin to appear, along with a shared dream of reconciliation.
The Guest
The day before Karl and Emilie’s son’s naming party, Karl’s estranged mother Vibeke arrives unannounced. Hoping to rejoin the family and prove herself as a grandmother, she inserts herself into the intimate weekend gathering at a seaside hotel. While Karl is furious, his sister Rikke insists Vibeke deserves a second chance.