[Film Impression] Rachel Getting Married

Amidst all the grand, heavyweight American films rolling out for the Oscar period, here is this little gem of a family drama which is quite possibly the sleeper hit of the season.

Set during the imminent wedding ceremony of one sister in a family, the drama reveals itself through the still-troubled second sister (Anne Hathaway, in a career highlight performance), who is fresh out of drug rehabilitation. The plot immediately conjures memories of two recent films; 'Margot At The Wedding', and 'I've Loved You So Long'. Both of these were good movies, however 'Rachel Getting Married' is a far more rounded and satisfying package. This is not to suggest that the film neatly ties all threads together; one does not exit the cinema with a sense of 'all's well that ends well'.

Director Jonathan Demme is definitely back to great form here. Initially sceptical, the hand-held documentary-style coverage quite quickly blends into the story wonderfully. It was also wonderful to see a multi-racial family all celebrating together. And, whilst the African-American groom-to-be - and his side of the family - didn't play a prominent part in the characterisation, you could undeniably hear and feel their presence in the vibrant and diverse music which ingratiates itself into the weekend celebrations.

In equal parts emotional as it is heart-warming, it is for this reason that I believe 'Rachel Getting Married' is a welcome counterpart to the 2006 film 'Little Miss Sunshine'.

'Rachel Getting Married' was released in 2009, and is screening in cinemas nationally.