Rachel Getting Married

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED was an intense experience. It has a raw power and spontaneity(that rarely works as excellently as it does here, giving the film a unique authenticity)I wasn't expecting.

I wasn't caught up in the euphoria of this particular year's Oscar season, nor was I that familiar with it's star Anne Hatheway. To be honest, I've had no interest in the PRINCESS DIARIES movies nor do I feel anything for the fashion industry which is why I hadn't seen her in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.

But, having seen this movie, I think Hatheway's an actress who could become a favorite of mine. This role requires a lot. She has this mess of a character trying to overcome a young life of bad decisions and drug issues.

When her Kyme enters a room, eyes roll with discontent. That's what impressed me about this movie, director Demme uncannily raises the complications of this family with such realism. I was uneasy while watching this, seeing a family preparing for a wedding, with all this baggage that is exists simmering.

Rosemarie DeWitt is extremely good as Rachel, Kyme's sister on the cusp of her marriage to a black musician(Tunde Adedimpbe), who wants some attention deverted her way for a change, with lots of emotional fireworks, hurt feelings, tension, heated arguments, anxiety, conflicting viewpoints about the black sheep in and out of drug rehab.



Kyme, I was thankful, doesn't devolve into drug abuse as we might be accustomed to seeing, which is refreshing. She legitimately wants to change, to be accepted again by her sister and others, finding it hard because of her involvement in the death of her brother. This is the painful event which lingers everytime Kyme enters the picture as her sister and others are setting up the wedding ceremony.

Debra Winger is their mother, having established a different life for herself after divorcing their dad. The truth is that the boy, Ethan, was entrusted in the care of Kyme who was deeply into her drug addiction. A car wreck where the vehicle plunges over a bridge into a lake resulting in Ethan's drowning, contributes mightily to the problems which clearly cause a visible fracture in the relationship between Kyme and her family.

I think that is the strength of the movie, how we see ups and downs, highs and lows, over the course of Kyme's return after spending time in rehab, and how those around her deal with this.

I mean, you see how they obviously would prefer her not to even be a part of this wedding and Kyme, who undeniably loves Rachel, in her heart of hearts, wants to be a part of her sister's happiest time. But, there's such anguish and turmoil prevalent in this family, to get to the wedding ceremony itself will yield unpleasant moments between sisters, and others hurt over the mistakes of the past. Genuine emotion is captured in all it's intensity and I had moments which were hard for me to not look away because of the vitriol.

Like when Kyme questions where they sit her at the wedding, her confrontation with her mother over Ethan, the night dinner where toasts are made for the happy couple as Kyme gets her turn, the shouting matches where Rachel tires of the topic of conversation always centered around Kyme, etc.

It isn't all uncomfortable and tense, there are moments of joy and harmony, and, thankfully a peaceful olive branch is extended between the sisters which is rewarding.

To Demme's credit, his film isn't concerned with pace or editing, he allows scenes to play out, such as the night dinner table..almost everyone in attendance is allowed to speak from their heart to the soon-to-married couple. The dishwashing scene where a troubling argument between father and daughter is broken up by those outside so the day wouldn't be totally spoiled by yet another conversation about Kyme.

The scene in the beauty salon where a former addict confronts a startled Kyme over how she contributed to his recovery through her bravery(she admitted to being sexually molested by her uncle, and that she contributed to Rachel's anorexia)which sends Rachel over the edge(she can not believe Kyme would lie about something so heinous, although the molestation isn't completely written off as false, since it is avoided later). I'll never forget his face, he had this ease and glow, as if a rainbow after a damaging storm. His voice had this peace and gratitude..it was a remarkably emotional, and positively awkward, scene, quite fascinating to watch play out. I don't think Hatheway could respond any better than her character does, befuddled by his comments as if she couldn't even remember saying them.

And, Demme shoots handheld, camera always moving as if someone is intruding upon this family as a witness sometimes up close, othertimes in the background. And, Demme shoots faces, and through such rich characterizations, we're rewarded by the work of his performers who completely inhabit their roles. These feel like accurate/real problems in the lives of accurate/real people. To spend time with them can be quite harrowing and troubling in equal doses.