The Dinner

The Dinner (2009) is a novel by Dutch author Herman Koch. In 2012, Sam Garrett translated it into English. The novel has been adapted into a film multiple times. It tells the story of a dinner at a restaurant, where the guests discuss a serious matter involving their children. Paul Lohman narrates the story, though his version of events may not be reliable.

Plot Summary

Paul Lohman, a former history teacher and the narrator of the novel, prepares to leave for a restaurant with his wife Claire. At the exclusive restaurant, they will meet Serge (Paul’s brother) and Babette (Serge’s wife) in order to have an important conversation about a family matter. Serge is currently the favorite candidate for the next prime minister of the Netherlands. Paul has been dreading the dinner. Claire and Paul talk about their 15-year-old son Michel. Claire thinks Michel has been acting strangely. Paul knows why but does not say. Before leaving for the dinner, Paul entered Michel’s room and looked through his son’s phone, viewing a video which confirmed his worst fears.

Claire and Paul arrive at the restaurant before Serge and Babette. Once seated, they’re offered a drink by the floor manager, a man Paul finds to be very annoying. Serge and Babette arrive, greeted personally by the owner of the restaurant. Paul notices that Babette has been crying. Paul disagrees with Serge’s opinions out of habit, even contradicting his own views in order to be argumentative. Serge and Babette have a son around Michel’s age named Rick, as well as a 13-year-old girl named Valerie and an adopted son from Burkina Faso named Beau. To escape a conversation about racism, Paul leaves the table to use the bathroom. In the bathroom, he has an awkward encounter with a bearded man who asks Paul if Serge will take a photo with his daughter, a politics student. Back at the table, Paul notices a tense silence. Babette is crying. She storms out of the restaurant and Claire chases after her. Serge sits next to Paul and blames his wife’s behavior on menopause. Just as Serge is about to begin his serious conversation, Paul signals to the bearded man to come across and take the photograph with Serge.

Paul leaves his brother, electing to search for their wives. His search leads him outside. He soon realizes that he has accidently taken Michel’s phone. It rings. Paul answers. Michel is calling from home. He tells Paul that he is coming to collect his phone, his voice sounding urgent. Returning to the restaurant bathroom, Paul watches the videos on his son’s phone again. He watches as Michel and Rick mock and abuse a homeless man. There are also two messages from Beau, who annoys Paul. Paul waits for Michel outside and listens to a voicemail on Michel’s phone from Claire. The mother and son seem to share a secret that Paul knows nothing about. Michel arrives. On seeing his son, Paul recalls the facts: Months ago, Rick and Michel attacked a homeless woman near an ATM. After throwing garbage at her and mocking her, they set fire to the woman. Her murder was a national scandal; when the CCTV footage aired, Paul instantly recognized his son but Claire seemingly didn’t.

Outside the restaurant, Paul acts naïve. After seeing the television broadcast, he had confronted Michel, and Michel admitted everything. Paul felt a desire to protect his son. In the ensuring days, he obsessed over the video. He found a clip on YouTube which revealed even more about the murder, with the promise of a sequel to follow. Though Paul advises his son to delete the videos on his phone, he realizes that Beau is blackmailing Michel. Claire joins them outside. She hugs Michel and he leaves; Claire admits to Paul that she knew about the murder. Paul remembers how he might have a hereditary mental health issue which could affect his social interactions and wonders if this might pass on to his son; Claire never told him whether she took the test.

Back in the restaurant, the floor manager serves dessert. Babette demands a different dessert, causing an angry argument between her and Serge. The owner eventually approaches and Paul swears at him. At last, they move on to the important matter. Serge announces his plan to hold a press conference, where he will stand down in the election and reveal to the world that Michel and Rick murdered the homeless woman. Babette is furious. She does not want Serge to stand down. Claire agrees with Babette, claiming that the murder was merely an accident and it is not worth ruining their children’s futures over. Serge believes that the boys will not be able to live with their guilt. Outwardly, Paul agrees with Claire, though he is secretly delighted that Serge will not be the prime minister. Paul and Claire order coffee while Serge uses his telephone to organize tomorrow’s press conference. Claire repeatedly asks Babette for the time and then phones home to talk to Michel. Serge and Babette leave, arranging to meet Claire and Paul in the ordinary café for one final drink together. Claire implores Paul to do something to stop Serge. He notices that Babette has left her phone on the table and checks her messages: Two messages, both from Beau. Claire reveals that she is aware of Beau’s blackmail plot. She has told Michel to do whatever he thinks is necessary; she has already established Michel’s alibi if needed. Paul tells Claire that he stopped taking his medication months ago. She already knows.

Claire asks Paul again to stop Serge, but Paul worries that his violent past will encourage people to poke around in his family, potentially uncovering Michel’s crimes. As Claire uses the bathroom, Paul pays the bill, laughing out loud while he does so. He searches for Claire but when he cannot find her, he exits the restaurant. He knows where she is. As sirens blare in the distance, he drops Babette’s phone from a bridge and then heads to the café. There, he sees an injured man wheeled out by paramedics. Babette chases after them. Police officers lead Claire away. She has used the stem of a smashed wine glass to cut Serge’s face, preventing him from holding the press conference. Paul rushes home. He deletes an answering phone message to solidify Michel’s alibi. Michel arrives home shortly after, his fists covered in blood. Serge loses the election and does not press charges against Claire. Michel and Paul hug as Paul laughs.