Film Review: Rachel Getting Married
In a recent interview concerning his upcoming documentary (Meeting Andrei Tarkovsky), Dmitry Trakovsky (not related) talks about the difference in approaches between contemporary films and the films of Tarkovsky. One of the most defining characteristic of a Tarkovsky film is its use of extended shots, which places an emphasis on the moment. In his interview Dmitry speaks of how he feels that many of today's contemporary films force the viewer to only be concerned with what happens next.
While Rachel Getting Married does not come close to approaching the look and feel of a Tarkovsky film, it does frequently possess a delightful sense of being in the moment. It is within these seemingly organic slivers of time that the wide range of human emotion is portrayed in a disarmingly authentic manner. Grief, anger, jealousy, joy, and love make their presence felt within the context of the celebration of a marriage and all without the taint of manipulation. Several times throughout the film I couldn't help but wince or crack a smile as I recognized parallels between my own loved ones and the characters on the screen.
The film is seen mainly through the eyes of Kym, adeptly played by Anne Hathaway. She's a drug addict who goes straight from rehab to a house full of bustling and excited people. Her sister Rachel, is played also quite well by Rosemarie DeWitt.
There are all sorts of minor plots that play out through the film, most revolving around Kim and her relationship with her family, but each is small and doesn't threaten to overwhelm the overall experience. There's no disaster the day before the wedding or any other similar plot device to produce a false sense of excitement and pace.
The story does not shirk from showing the darker side of its protagonist, or any of its characters for that matter. Depending on how forgiving you are, you may even leave hating a few of them. Discussion may even be provoked by disagreements between viewers after the credits roll (heaven forbid a film do that!).
There's a lack of a score (which helps to maintain its emotional honesty), but music still plays an important role. A variety of musicians and musical styles are present through the preparations and the actual ceremony. This helps to further ground the film in a sense of reality. At times the sound of a violin can be faintly heard in the background as one of the musicians practices.
It's been a good while since I've seen a recent film as refreshing as this one. It's available now on DVD, so go check it out.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGk7E53NtDo&feature=PlayList&p=A416E3A7827F4650&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=23]