17/12/2011

Muriel's Wedding


Muriel's Wedding

In 1994, two Australian films debued in the film and played an important role in the revival of ABBA: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ( The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ) and Muriel's Wedding (Muriel's Wedding ). Both have acquired the status of cult movies not only among fans of the group, but on a much broader world. Let's talk about the second, required not only for those who like ABBA but also for lovers of alternative cinema from the first made ​​outside the Hollywood circuit.

Muriel's Wedding is a film about youth, dreams and frustrations. Not necessarily in that order. The story is a comedy with touches of drama, but it skillfully dosed without artifice and without ever falling into predictable melodrama. Muriel (Toni Collette) is a chubby young man perpetually seeking social acceptance, especially among the girls, clueless, and snobs futile. Product of a dysfunctional family, she lives with her ​​father rude and corrupt, submissive and subservient mother and a useless bunch of brothers who spend their days doing nothing.
A socially awkward, overweight, naïve "ugly duckling", who is obsessed with the music ofABBA, Muriel Heslop (Toni Collette) is the target of ridicule by the more fashion-conscious girls she considers her friends. She also is a perpetual daydreamer who yearns for a glamorouswedding and marriage to a man who will help improve her personal life and free her from a tedious life dominated by her demanding and often psychologically abusive father Bill (Bill Hunter), a corrupt politician who verbally lashes out at his subservient wife Betty and their unambitious children at every opportunity.
After Bill discovers Muriel has used a blank cheque to steal money to finance a vacation at a tropical resort, she leaves her family in the coastal town of Porpoise Spit to set up house inSydney with her carefree, hedonistic friend Rhonda (Rachel Griffiths). In Sydney, she follows her dream, only to discover life's realities. Although ostensibly a comedy, Muriel's Weddingdeals with serious issues. The overriding theme of following one's dream is regularly punctuated by scenes depicting the disappointments and loss of self-esteem that frequently accompany the quest. The movie is regarded as a cult film

In her room, Muriel takes refuge in ABBA songs - she is obsessed by the group - and the dream of marrying a prince . But that's not enough. After giving a default in the father and run away from home, she finds Rhonda (Rachel Griffiths), an old friend from high school.The two then decide to resume their lives in another city. 


Always wanting to look "normal", Muriel buys a compulsion to lie and their stories have seen a real snowball. She then finds himself involved in several problems, not only with family but also with her friend. All punctuated by the songs of ABBA, expressing at the same time almost irrepressible ingenuity of Muriel and his melancholy, the result of profound lack of affection. For her, the acceptance will be possible only through marriage.

"When I lived in Porpoise Spit, sat in my room for hours, just listening to the songs of ABBA," says Muriel her friend Rhonda. "But since I met you and moved to Sydney, no one listened to music of Abba. You know what that means? That my life is as good as an ABBA song. It is as good as Dancing Queen . "

Director PJ Hogan had difficulty finding someone to fund a simple movie with a plot and characters that had nothing of that agitation of the young American films. The sponsorship came from a French company and it worked. Muriel's Wedding has been successful not only in their home country but also worldwide. Without actors nor expensive special effects, the only requirement for the producer PJ Hogan was the release of the rights of the songs of ABBA.

But Hogan could not just use the songs in the film. He wrote and phoned Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus incessantly, without response. They were afraid that his music was not used in a positive way. Finally, it was to spend a slice of low budget film with a ticket Sydney - Stockholm. Hogan went to Sweden with the script for the movie Benny and Björn convinced that it would not make fun of the band. On the contrary.


The music of ABBA as a backdrop in Muriel's Wedding is very positive. There is a wonderful scene of pure catharsis, where Muriel and Rhonda, dressed as Agnetha and Frida, an amusing feature version of Waterloo . Collette's performance is touching and he won the Australian Academy Award for Best Actress, and Rachel Griffiths won the Best Supporting Actress. The film also won for Best Picture. Collette has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy / Musical.

For the title role, she had to gain weight 18 kg in 7 weeks, with the help of a nutritionist. The effort was worth it. Toni gained notoriety and became a respected actress in the world. Participated after dozens of hit films like The Sixth Sense(1999), The Hours (2002), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), among others. The partner Rachel Griffiths was also known for TV series Six Feet Under and Brothers and Sisters .

Bill Hunter, who is the father of Muriel, was filming Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the same time he was filming Muriel's Wedding . The difficulty was that each character required him different lengths of hair and beard, and recordings in different parts of Australia.

The Director PJ Hogan also won his permanent place in film and directed films like The My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) and The Delusions of consumption Becky Bloom(2009). But it will always be remembered for Muriel's Wedding , one of the most beloved films of the 90s, which eventually paving the way for the success of the musical Mamma Mia!




Muriel's Wedding
Muriel's Wedding )
Written and directed by   P. J. Hogan.
Australia, 1994.
Cast: Toni Collette , Bill Hunter, Rachel Griffiths, Jeanie Drynan, Gennie Nevinson, Sophie Lee, Roz Hammond, Belinda Jarrett, Gabby Millgate, Daniel Lapaine, Matt Day

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