A Wedding

 

Moviedrome Introduction

Film Details 

Release Date: 1978

Director: Robert Altman

Stars: 

Carol Burnett – Tulip Brenner

Amy Stryker – Muffin Brenner (the bride)

Mia Farrow – Buffy Brenner

Plot Summary

The film chronicles a single day at an opulent wedding between two contrasting families: the old-money, Protestant Brenners and the flashy, Catholic Corellis. As guests mingle before and after the ceremony, a cascade of scandals, affairs, business manoeuvres, resentments, and absurd mishaps unfolds—culminating in a sudden death that is quietly covered up to avoid disrupting the occasion. Despite mounting chaos and moral emptiness, the wedding proceeds as planned, exposing the event as a hollow social performance that must continue at all costs.

Personal History

Unheard of.

Current Review

Quite a chaotic black comedy, with a sprawling ensemble of actors playing as two families (no friends, they don't turn up) attend a lavish wedding in a big country house.

The jokes aren't telegraphed but are there and are plentiful. The family Matriarch dying on the big day not enough to thwart it. The slow reveal of the bride and her braces, somewhat ruining the look. The sister - who we determine is pregnant with the groom's child. Her father asking her to tell on how many men she slept with and as she is largely mute, using her fingers. Then the fingers of the flower girls.

It's that type of humour.

Muffin the Bride

Quirky Facts

Robert Altman films are known for multiple plots, overlapping dialogue, black comedy and ensemble casts. In relation to the latter, there are 48 featured characters in this movie.

Sissy Spacek was offered the role of Buffy Brenner. She couldn't appear in the film due to a scheduling conflict, so the role went to Mia Farrow. Ha! I knew she looked like someone.

The film became the subject of much critical discussion during its initial release, as it was largely unscripted. The actors were encouraged to ad-lib as much as possible throughout the film. No surprise there.

Mia Farrow has only four lines of dialogue in the whole movie.

Quotes

None of any note. Mia Farrow is largely mute.

Future Inspiration

From a podcast, I already had 3 Women recommended by Julianne Moore as her favourite film.

AI choosing Elizabeth Day The Party as a book - which is interesting.