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Synopsis:
Young
fans of Anne Hathaway's previous roles in family films such
as THE PRINCESS DIARIES and ELLA ENCHANTED probably wouldn't
know what to make of her character in RACHEL GETTING
MARRIED. Hathaway's Kym is a recovering drug addict who
leaves rehab behind to attend the wedding of her sister,
Rachel (Rosemarie DeWitt, MAD MEN), but Kym's problems
follow her home. Rachel cannot forgive or forget Kym's many
drug-fuelled transgressions, and their father (Bill Irwin,
LADY IN THE WATER) dotes on his returned daughter. As the
wedding grows closer, the spotlight shifts from Rachel to
Kym, much to the bride's irritation. The alternately
hilarious and heartbreaking dialogue in RACHEL GETTING
MARRIED adeptly walks the line between wit and reality,
giving audiences a picture of a family that feels entirely
authentic. Before directing this indie-feeling drama,
director Jonathan Demme spent time doing a few
documentaries, such as THE AGRONOMIST, and JIMMY CARTER: MAN
FROM PLAINS. These films seem like a departure from his
normal oeuvre - including THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - but
they work as a bridge to RACHEL GETTING MARRIED. Demme chose
to shoot this film with handheld cameras, lending it a
naturalistic feel, as though a cameraman is simply shooting
the family videos of a fascinatingly flawed group of people.
The cast certainly deserves praise for the film's
authenticity as well. Much has been made of Hathaway's
masterly shedding of her usual roles to play the damaged
Kym, but credit should also go to the other members of the
cast, particularly Irwin as the too devoted father and
DeWitt as the overlooked sister. Stories about dysfunctional
families are nothing new in the world of cinema, but RACHEL
GETTING MARRIED stands out thanks to its talented cast and
excellent script from Jenny Lumet, daughter of director
Sidney Lumet (NETWORK).
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