AFTER THE WEDDING
US, 2019, 112 minutes, Colour.
Michelle Williams, Julianne Moore, Billy Crudup, Will Chase, Abby Quinn, Alex Esola.
Directed by Bart Freundlich.
Audiences may remember the Danish film of the same name, from 2007, starring Mads Mikkelson, directed by Susan Bier. It made quite an impact at the time.
Part of the impact was the decision to do an English-language remake. The original was adapted and the new film directed by Bart Freundlich (The Myth of Fingerprints, Trust the Man). Both of these films starred his wife, Julianne Moore, and he directs her in this film as well. This version stays close to the original but is interesting because of one particularly significant change, the gender of the principal characters is reversed, so this becomes more of a story about women than the original which focused on men.
This film has a strong cast, not only with Julianne Moore very dynamic, but a subtle and sometimes mysterious performance by Michelle Williams, well worth experiencing, the central focus of the drama. Included in the cast is Billy Crudup as Julianne Moore’s husband and Abby Quinn as his daughter.
The opening sequences are set in India, some wonderful aerial shots of the landscapes, of the city, finally coming down to settle on children in prayer at an orphanage – and then their going to play soccer. Michelle Williams is Isabel, who has come from the United States, living and working in India for many years, supporting the orphanage but on the lookout for funding, absorbing Indian traditional prayer and contemplation, very much attached to the young orphans. .
The film opens with news of potential funding from the United States, from a wealthy benefactress, Teresa, (Julianne Moore), a busy head of a very successful company which she has developed. She is married to Oscar (Billy Crudup) an artist, also successful. His daughter, Grace (Abby Quinn) is about to be married. Teresa demands that Isabel come in person to New York to negotiate the financial support – and she is invited by Teresa, over-preoccupied with detail of the wedding reception, to come to the wedding.
The film has some emotional complications, the audience not expecting them but appreciating the attention to little details, expressions, looks, which will reveal the complexities (and which the review will not reveal).
There are many dramatic and emotional moments in the film. They are not rushed. The film moves with something of a quiet pace even as the drama intensifies.
This is a film which not only interests the audience in the characters but even more so in their interactions – which emerge, as the title indicates, after the wedding.
1. The title? Expectations? Revelations? Resolution?
2. The Indian sequences, the aerial views, the town, the orphanage, the orphans of prayer, play? The focus on India? Isabel, her presence, dress, the company, her work, assistant, the need for funding?
3. The New York settings, the streets, hotels, offices, homes? The wedding? The restaurants? The woods and the art? The musical score, songs?
4. A humane film, relationships, broken relationships, tests, but the depth of love?
5. Isabel, her character, presence in India, Indian customs, bonds with the orphans, with Johnny? His story? Her dedication, the staff? The issues of money, the possibility for funding, the demand for her to go to New York? Taking the documents, Jonathan in the taxi, the welcome, the hotel and the lavish room, going to the office, the encounter with Teresa, her being very busy, the businesslike discussions, the invitation to the wedding, her arriving late?
6. Teresa, in the car, singing with Lady Gaga, busy, creating an empire, wealthy? Her relationship with Oscar, at ease with him, intimacy, the bath? Yet not telling him her health diagnosis? Her secretary, harshness with her? Her relationship with Grace? The revelation that she was stepmother? The wedding, arrangements, issues of lobster…? Oscar, his personality, his art, preparing the exhibition, phoning Grace? The presence of the twins, their age, play?
7. Teresa, the discussions about the orphanage, her choice of Isabel, the later revelation about her researching her thoroughly, knowing who she was, Grace’s mother? Inviting her to the wedding? Her illness, Grace treating her as her mother? The issue of money, the conditions, the meeting in the signing of the documents, her illness, support from Oscr? Her death and funeral?
8. Grace, her age, working in the office with her mother, Jonathan and his work in the office, the engagement, and love? Her devotion to her parents? The preparation for the marriage, the discussions, moving despite her parents’ disapproval yet their not saying so? The ceremony, declarations of love, the dinner, the speeches, the tributes? The later tension with Jonathan, wondering whether she had made a mistake, the loose end of Jonathan and reconciliation or not?
9. Isabel, seeing Oscar, the glances, audience suspecting the truth, knowing the truth? The story of her past, aged 18, pregnant, the birth of the daughter, their agreement for adoption, her leaving, Oscar returning after the months, keeping the baby, Grace saying Teresa was her choice of stepmother?
10. Isabel going to the house, Teresa and Oscar talking with Grace, the argument, the impact on her? Isabel visiting? Grace going to the hotel, seeking Isabel out, the restaurant, the frank talk?
11. Teresa, the promise of $20 million, the demand that Isabel stay, Teresa planning, that she should be there for Oscar, for Grace, for the business enterprise? Her taking the twins to Washington and leaving Grace and Isabel free?
12. Teresa dying, her emotional outburst? The funeral? All present?
13. Isabel going back to India, the money, her assistant? Talking with the boy, his wanting to stay with his friends?
14. Human nature, good and bad decisions, circumstances, mistakes, possibilities for redemption?
