POLISH WEDDING

US, 1998, 105 minutes, Colour.
Gabriel Byrne, Lena Olin, Claire Danes, Adam Trese, Rade Serbedzija, Daniel Lapaine, Mili Avital.
Directed by Theresa Connelly.

Polish Wedding is the only film from Theresa Connelly, writer and director. It is alleged to be somewhat autobiographical. However, the film is set in Detroit, amongst the Polish community. Reviews and comments on the film, especially by Poles in Poland and the United States, disclaimed any real connection with Polish culture and Polish traditions.

The film focuses on a family with Gabriel Byrne as the rather laidback father, Lena Olin as the dominant mother (who is nevertheless having an affair with Rade Serbedzija). Of the five children, four are boys. The film focuses on the daughter, played by Claire Danes, who is rather promiscuous in her behaviour, has an affair with the local policeman (Adam Trese) and becomes pregnant, to the scandal of people around, especially as she is to participate in a procession of the Blessed Virgin and put the crown on the statue’s head.

The film attempts some characterisations, clashes in relationships, questions about morality and religion (with a rather censorious priest played by Jeffrey Nordling).

1. A slice of life of Americana, Detroit style? The Polish community? The adverse response from Poles to the film? For the wider audience? Credible, plausible?

2. Detroit as a city, the environs, homes, workplaces? The church? The background of ordinary people? The musical score – European style?

3. The title, the focus on Hala, her pregnancy, marriage or not? The background of Polish families, relationships?

4. The family: Bolek, his laidback personality, father of his children, love for his wife? At work, smoking, coming home, casual? His discovery of his wife’s infidelity, his weeping? His concern about his children? about Hala? Jadzia, her strong personality, her relationship with her husband, her children, the cooking, the pickles, her cleaning work? The discovery of her affair with Roman? The motivations, the emotions, the passion? Her listening to him, the invitation to Paris, his calling her a queen, her being a cleaning woman, accepting the reality? Returning home? The clash with her husband? Her treatment of her children, her daughter-in-law, the boys? With Hala, advice to her, tolerance of her?

5. The children, the boys, Zigi and his wife, the baby? The young boy, letting Hala in through the window, smoking? The older sons? Their place in the household? The bonding?

6. Hala, her age, the only girl, seeing her with the sailor at the opening, getting in the window, her younger brother letting her in? Her place in the household? Her relationship with Russell, the affair, love? Her work, her future? Strong willed, free spirit? Her pregnancy?

7. The news of her pregnancy, people’s gossip, the procession, the reaction of the priest? With the wreath, on the ladder, praying to Mary? Her mother’s response? The family and the clash, the reconciliation?

8. The priest, the Polish community, celebration of liturgy, his stern attitudes, his behaviour at the procession, Jadzia telling him to back off?

9. The neighbours, the lifestyle, interest, gossip, friendships?

10. One year later, after the attack on Russell, on his father? The issue of pregnancy, having the baby or not? The happy family, at home, together?