A NEW YORK CHRISTMAS WEDDING
US, 2020, 88 minutes, Colour.
Nia Fairweather, Adriana DeMeo, Chris Noth, Otoja Abit, David Anzuelo.
Directed by Otoja Abit.
At first a familiar romance (2021, d. Otoja Abit) but then a move into alternate world and a same-sex marriage drama. Two middle-aged women, friends since childhood, intend to marry and visit the parish priest of 23 years who has known them well. They discuss the possibility of marrying in the church. He is hesitant, conscious of traditions. However, at Mass, reading from I Corinthians 6 (and its severity on depraved behaviour), the congregation standing as if it were the gospel, he then invites him to sit, invites the two women and other parishioners who are in same-sex relationships on to the sanctuary. He decries condemnations and emphasises the universality of love. Some parishioners walk out. However, as a symbol, he decides to give communion to each of those on the sanctuary as a sign of love.
The priest, Father Kelly, played by Chris Noth who executive-produced the film, listens to quotations from Pope Francis on the issue, and, especially, a television clip of Pope Francis meeting one of the young men from Chile who was abused by the church and the Pope saying that his sexual orientation was the way he was born. And the priest is present for an exuberant wedding party afterwards and enthusiastic speeches.
When the central character returns to the present, she visits the Church to find Fr Kelly but is told that he was retired long since after officiating privately at same-sex weddings. It is also revealed that Father Kelly took care of the young pregnant girl, persuaded her against an abortion, assisted her in getting help. It is interesting that there are 48 comments on the IMDb blog, only two of them making reference to the Catholic church, one just noting, as an atheist, there is a Catholic context. The church and same-sex issues are not mentioned by the bloggers.
- Popular New York romantic drama? 1999? 2019? The issue of same-sex marriages?
- The New York settings, the neighbourhoods in Queens, the contrast with affluence in Manhattan? The streets, parish church, the rectory? The musical score?
- Jennifer’s story, in 1999, Gabby, Gabby and her boyfriend, the phone call, Jennifer’s demands, expectations, anger, cutting off the phone call, writing the hostile letter, the consequences, His pregnancy, giving birth, the death of the child, her grief, wandering into the traffic, her death?
- 2019, Jennifer, executive, success, engagement to David, the dinner with his parents, the demanding mother and her arrangements for the wedding? David siding with his mother? Jennifer going for the job, the cyclist and his texting, the accident, his being an armed, the revelation that he was an angel, guarding her, taking her to the alternate world in Queens?
- Jennifer and Gabby, the relationship, Jennifer with her knowledge of the alternate world, the puzzle? Gabby and her enthusiasm? Jennifer happy with the reunion with her father? Going to the parish, the discussions with father Kelly? The issue of same-six marriage? Quoting Pope Francis? The television program on the man abused in Chile and Pope Francis affirmation of his orientation? The decision for the wedding, the gathering in the church, Father Kelly and 1 Corinthians 6, his emphasis on love, getting the couples on to the sanctuary, affirming them, giving them communion? Several parishioners walking out? The support from the rest of the congregation? Changing dresses for the reception, the exuberance of the reception?
- Jennifer, the reception, encountering the angel again, sombre, his giving her the options, David appearing, Gabby and her being puzzled?
- Jennifer, weighing up the issues, the decision to stay in the alternate world, her option of where she would return to? The choosing of the original phone call, not being so harsh, Gabby leaving the boyfriend, coming to decorate the Christmas tree, Jennifer’s father, the alternate story?
- The film taking a stance on same-sex weddings, in the context of the Catholic Church?
