Independent Films, Film Profiles

Muriel's Wedding

Muriel's Wedding (1994) is an Australian black comedy/drama written and directed by P. J. Hogan.Hogan, whose screenplay incorporates a number of events in his own life, cast relatively unknown Toni Collette (who gained 18 kilograms (40 lb) for the role) and Rachel Griffiths in the lead roles. Collette was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and Griffiths won both the Australian Film Critics Award and the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The worldwide success of the film was instrumental in propelling the careers of the director and his stars.A socially awkward, slightly overweight, and naïve "ugly duckling" obsessed with the music of ABBA, Muriel Heslop is the target of ridicule by the more sophisticated girls she considers her friends. She also is a perpetual daydreamer who yearns for a glamorous wedding and marriage to a man who will help elevate her from her personal limitations and free her from a tedious life dominated by her demanding and often psychologically abusive father Bill, a corrupt politician who lashes out at his subservient wife Betty and their unambitious children every opportunity he gets.After Bill discovers Muriel has drained his bank account to finance a vacation at a tropical resort, she leaves her family in the coastal town of Porpoise Spit to set up housekeeping in Sydney with her carefree, hedonistic friend Rhonda. As the newly christened Mariel, she follows her dream, only to discover life's realities continue to present obstacles she must overcome in order to achieve real growth. Rhonda's battle with cancer, which leaves her crippled and bound to a wheelchair, a marriage of convenience to champion South African swimmer David Van Arckle, who is hoping to compete with Australia in the Summer Olympic Games, and her mother's unexpected suicide are among the trials Muriel faces on her journey to self-discovery.Although ostensibly a comedy, Muriel's Wedding deals with serious issues, and 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 widely as a cult film.