2008, USA
Drama, Romance
Wedding movies have been done. They provide an easy way to unite dysfunctional family members who should rarely interact, and the stress of the occasion invites a suitable amount of comedic chaos. In Rachel Getting Married, director Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, The Silence of the Lambs) addresses a cracked family through the presence of a self-destructive sister fresh from rehab, but instead of easy jokes Demme views the occasion with a beautifully intimate lens.
Said lens-work is guided by cinematographer Declan Quinn (Leaving Las Vegas, Breakfast on Pluto), who uses documentary-style handwork – even looking through a guest's cheap video camera at times – to capture both the small details and broad togetherness of a wedding weekend. The camera follows the characters rather than anticipating them, allowing actions to feel authentic rather than planned. Demme helped achieve this by refusing to rehearse the scenes of Jenny Lumet's (Sidney's daughter) script, resulting in very natural and energized performances.
Anne Hathaway's talents have become evident in recent years, and this film is a perfect display of both her comedic and dramatic gifts. As Kym, the elephant in the room who prefers to stomp and holler rather than merely be an uncomfortable presence, she taps into a dry and desperate humor, aching for attention. Though Kym has a reputation for making a scene and causing havoc, it is the private moments that are most devastating. Whether it be a rare, truthful confession in an AA meeting or wandering through her childhood home and stirring up painful ghosts, these are the times when Kym is quietly contained and yet the most raw and unguarded.
The titular bride should be the focus of the weekend but has always been hidden by Kym's loud and self-involved behavior. Rosemarie DeWitt is excellent as the good daughter who seeks a chance to be the center of attention. Good in comparison but not shy in demeanor, she brutally addresses a family history that involves a father (Bill Irwin) overly concerned with her addict sister and a mother (Debra Winger) who keeps a careful distance.
Missing from the family is a brother whose presence is found in items and rooms of the house. The family home becomes its own character, connecting the relatives through a shared history and echoes of the storms that changed them. These troubles surface at Kym's request, despite the overwhelming happiness of friends who wander the halls.
These friends present their gifts to the bride and groom through song. Demme has covered his share of music (Stop Making Sense, Neil Young: Heart of Gold) and infuses the film with wandering musicians that range from classical violin to funky Jamaican to Robyn Hitchcock (star of Demme's Storefront Hitchcock). Many of the wedding goers and entertainers are personal friends of Demme's, and the natural chemistry is reflective of the perfect gathering of loved ones. The variety of genres in the music represents the beautiful diversity of friends who surround the happy couple, and Demme utilizes their presence with lovely effect as a loose soundtrack. A fresh and constant rehearsal or live performance is ever-present, only interrupted by a character's request for silence.
And the silence is overwhelming. Some of the most powerful moments in the film occur without dialogue, as the audience finds solace in mere observation. Kym's greatest gift is her inaction, despite the immense restraint required to obtain this state. It is not an easy feat to capture an internal struggle as a character is surrounded by oblivious joy, and yet Demme does so expertly. Rachel Getting Married is beautiful in its ability to be unobtrusive and yet wholly exposed.