THE WILDE WEDDING
US, 2017, 95 minutes, Colour.
Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Patrick Stewart, Minnie Driver, Grace Van Patten, Noah Emmerich, Peter Facinelli, Jack Davenport, Yael Stone.
Directed by Damien Harris.
Of course, the Wilde of the title refers to the family – but it could well refer to the goings on, the shenanigans at the actual wedding.
One of the granddaughters of the family has a camera and is filming interviews with relatives and guests, filming the proceedings. And, she has quite some proceedings to go on with. Glenn Close plays a celebrated actress who is marrying for the fourth time, a novelist, played by Patrick Stewart who, nevertheless, still has a roving eye. Also invited to the wedding is her first husband, father of her children, an actor, played with sometimes puzzled charm by John Malkovich.
Add to the mix the various sons and their wives, some loving, some hostile, scenes being created around the house and at unpredictable times. Should she marry? Should she not marry? Is she in love with her next husband? He with her? What is the role of the children, their squabbles, making peace in public but fighting behind the scenes?
And, the final solution relies somewhat on T.S. Elliot’s remark that in my end is my beginning!
1. An American comedy of manners, 21st-century? Good manners, bad manners?
2. The title, the irony of the family name? The wedding focus? The family focus?
3. The house on the grounds, the interiors, the pool, the grass and lawns? The wedding location? The musical score?
4. Mackenzie, talking to camera, her making her documentary? Explanations, styles, the various shots, the sequences, the interviews, Eve and Laurence, her father and uncles, cousin? Her infatuation with her cousin, the swimming sequences? The speculations for the interviewees – questions about the first loves?
5. Eve, Mackenzie giving the potted history, the meeting with Eve, Laurence, acting, marrying, television program, her becoming a star, the divorce, the suggestion of a birdcage for his next wife, to keep her in? Her subsequent marriages? The three sons, the bonds with their mother? Meeting Harold, falling in love, deciding to marry him? Laurence and his presence, the ease between them despite the disputes? The relationship with Harold? Her confiding in Laurence, the morning, the hesitations, his betrayal, calling off the wedding? On the balcony, Laurence proposing, her acceptance, happy and the future?
6. Laurence, his career, his manner manners, manner of talking, the marriage to Eve, the songs, his attitude towards family? The touch of the cynic, moving to a romantic? His observations, the discussion with Harold, the night before with Eve? His speech to the guests, proposal, and his knees, acceptance?
7. The sketch of their sons, James, his roving eye, phoning about the bus driver? His fall, hurting his leg? Rory, the story of his marriage, estrangement from Priscilla, his skill as a musician, composer, her successful career, the divorce? The son, filming him dancing? Priscilla, pushy, her performance, the song for Eve? Rory, with Priscilla, the encounter with Clemmie, the day after, the future? Ethan, his daughter, his flirting, the girl making the mask, going to sleep, his smashing it?
8. Harold, his being a writer, his life, his daughters, their friends? At the house, enthusiastic, discussions with Laurence, with Eve? His motives? Drinking, the night with the girlfriend? The daughter’s reactions? His being ashamed, leaving?
9. The visiting friends, the pool? The guests for the wedding?
10. Dylan, the cousin, comments about cousins, the infatuation with Mackenzie?
11. An American family, 21st-century family, mores and morals?
