Film Review: Rachel Getting Married

Director: Jonathan Demme

A 2008 drama directed by the man behind The Silence of the Lambs, this is a very different picture with it all being filmed with handheld cameras and a score played live on film rather than layered over the top to give it a more authentic feel. You can feel that Demme obviously had a distinct vision for this film and that it was one that he valued highly. The screenplay was written by Jenny Lumet who is the daughter of esteemed writer Sidney Lumet.

Kym (Anne Hathaway) is released from rehab so she can attend her sisters, Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt), wedding to Sidney (Tunde Adebimpe). The relationship between Kym and her family is strained as they are all concerned for her well-being which she mistakes for mistrust and resentment for Kym's past actions constantly reappear as preparations for the wedding continue in days preceding the event.

Anne Hathaway is very different playing an unsympathetic and attention seeking former drug addict, the days leading up to her sisters wedding end up revolving around her and her problems rather than her sister whose the bride. The tension and hostility subtly builds between the family and friends as the niceties wear off after the first day. Demme does a great job of making the entire film feel like you are sat in the corner of the room watching people's real lives unfold infront of you. It has a truly intimate feel and some scenes, like the challenge between Sidney and Dad Paul in loading the dishwasher the fastest, give a genuine family feel to proceedings.

Kieran, Kym, Rachel and Sidney

Anne Hathaway is immensely impressive as the recovering Kym, a performance so lacking in empathy and consideration for those around her that she steals the thunder of her sister who is getting married. Rosemarie DeWitt is also impressive as the hard done by sister whilst the male casting is a little more bewildering but they are merely a sideshow to the true strife between the family and Kym.

It has many moments of impromptu and possibly unedited scenes of family members giving speeches at a rehearsal dinner, never understood why they happen, and at the wedding itself with dancing. Although it is all part of the real life feel of the movie they do drag on too long to be enjoyed the whole way through, especially the dancing at the wedding as anyone who has sat and watched people dance will realise that it is actually quite tedious after a few minutes. But these are a few minor criticisms in what is a deeply painful and yet joyous movie.

3/4 Subtle real life drama with a haunting past