Director: Kristin Scott Thomas
Writers: Kristin Scott Thomas, John Mickelthwait
Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham
Synopsis: Three sisters return to their home for the third wedding of their twice-widowed mother. But the mother and daughters are forced to revisit the past and confront the future, with help from a colorful group of unexpected wedding guests.
There’s a warmth to the family dramedy that never quite dissipates. Even if you don’t like the ensemble of eccentric characters or the plot, there’s something about entering someone’s home and being privy to their past, present, and future home life that feels like home. Something about a family that’s not our own sparks an empathy within us. We see ourselves and those we love and loath in equal measure and may understand an opportunity to make amends or confront someone in our own families after seeing one of these films. Co-writer, director, and actor, Kristin Scott Thomas joins some of the greats of the genre in crafting a good family dramedy with My Mother’s Wedding.
Unlike most of the other people working in the family dramedy space, Thomas brought in some autobiographical elements to her story. Like her heroines, her father and step father died in military actions. This creates a unique aspect of the film as the three sisters were raised exclusively by their mother, yet they have a mythical reverence for these two men. The way that Thomas and co-writer John Mickelthwait crafted the story, the titular mother is sidelined for much of the film as the daughters attempt to grapple with the heroic image of their fathers and the seemingly milquetoast man who is becoming husband number three. The outsider’s view of their mother makes for a much more thrilling conclusion.
The film, while maintaining a large cast, also has a focal character in Katherine (Scarlett Johansson), the eldest of the sisters. Katherine is an interesting focal character to have because she is a very intrinsic character. Much of her story is a slow reveal from her complicated relationship with her girlfriend, Jack (Frieda Pinto), to her ever present guilt about the last conversation she had with her step father. In the same way that the slow reveal is keeping the plot going, it’s also a bit unsatisfying when conclusions are reached. Even though she is the focal character, Katherine’s story is the least well developed of the three sisters.
Yet, Katherine’s story features a unique way to do flashbacks. Instead of the traditional live action scenes with younger actors, the filmmakers opted to have the flashback scenes animated. The animation is in black and white and almost looks like pencil drawings. They are always from Katherine’s perspective and come upon her like lightning bolts in a particular moment she finds herself in and often in response to something she doesn’t want to talk about outside her head. It’s an excellent device and in some ways explains Katherine’s reticence about her personal life and why she feels guilt about the past.
The cast is great, but the true stand out is Sienna Miller as Victoria. Victoria is a famous actress who is on a press tour for the fourth film in a franchise and is weighing whether or not she will accept the advances of a wealthy, but much older French businessman. Her arc could make a rom-com in its own right with childhood sweetheart Charlie (Mark Stanley) rekindling their flame while the chaos of the wedding happens around them. Miller has a tendency to stay in the background. She’s not always the flashiest performer, but as Victoria, she really shines and steals every scene she’s in. Her verve and vulnerability are on full display and she’s a delight to watch.
My Mother’s Wedding is a funny and charming film that may bring a tear or two to your eye. The plot gets bogged down a bit with all the story threads that need sewing back together. It’s hard too with a focal character who isn’t as forthcoming as a film like this needs her to be. Yet, it’s an enjoyable film to watch and immerse yourself in. If she chooses, Kristin Scott Thomas could give Nancy Meyers and Nicole Holofcener some stiff competition in the family dramedy game.
