The family party that unveils long-forgotten family secrets is a frequent plot twist in fiction cinema. This film reminds us of both Visconti and Vinterberg and seduces the cinephile memory almost to the point of labelling it as fiction, while remaining a masterful exercise in documentary observation. The Celebration follows an affluent Polish family as they prepare for a carefully choreographed anniversary. Under the skin of this family lie questions and prejudices which testify to larger and more complex tensions confronting Poland today. The visit of a niece relocated to Germany triggers a wealth of only apparently benign questions which linger unnervingly, as conversations about nail varnish or home-cooked food descend into arguments about abortion, Islam, or the uses of European Union. For anybody who after a family dinner has vowed never again to discuss politics at the table, this film is a must.