Customer Reviews

Polish Wedding

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

Life is not ALWAYS funny, and neither was this movie, but I have to believe it was not meant to be. The characters and setting are rich and believable (isn't this what movies and books are about-- suspension of disbelief, and being taken to another time and place?).

No, I didn't sit there and laugh the whole time, but I did feel deep emotion throughout the movie. Anger, indignation, pride, empathy, amazement (Lena Olin's character is quite a wildwoman), joy, curiosity, sadness, pity, regret, hope... and the list goes on.

No, darlings, it's not a Jim Carrey brainless comedy, and it's not a Minnie Driver brainy comedy, either. It is a drama that is funny occasionally because life is funny occasionally. (Sometimes you either laugh or you cry, you know. This movie is an excellent example of that.)

And if that weren't enough, well then, what about watching it for Gabriel Byrne? He is compelling as the Polish, chain-smoking, flour-dusted baker-- husband to the dashing and determined Lena Olin and father to the fresh and curious Claire Danes. Byrne's performance is reason enough to watch this film. For one thing, his accent is absolutely perfect. The viewer is not reminded that this is an Irishman, because he plays the Pole through and through.

Though Olin's character seems to be running the show, one look at Byrne sitting on the steps blowing smoke into the sky and flashing his dark-fringed moody blues is enough to make you feel this man knows what's going on. He's no dummy. But he accepts the imperfections in his life because, well, life isn't perfect. Unlike most of us, he is finding contentment in a world that would leave most wanting. There are no cellphones, cable TV, or credit cards, no designer clothing, nothing trendy at all in this movie, yet the world of the characters is complete, and in turn, the story is focused on the people and what is truly important in their lives. SO different from many movies these days.

This is simply the story of a Polish family in Detroit who are trying in their own way to be who they are (some of them still trying to find out who they are). After seeing the story unfold before me, I felt like I had a taken a glimpse behind closed doors. I'd say that makes the movie effective, wouldn't you?

I would happily watch this movie again and again.

I do not own the DVD. I own the soundtrack cd (great score!). But, I must say that there was a lot to enjoy in this movie. Quirky is just fine with me. And then, to be able to look at the fabulous Lena Olin!! I, too, am from an "ethnic" family, and, thus, look at portrayals of ethnic people with a particularly sensitive eye. In that light, I must say that I did not find anything so terribly or intentionally offensive in the portrayal of characters or nationalities here. As an adult, hopefully one realizes that there is a great deal of variety within each ethnic group. There is a lot of universal stuff here, too, as it relates to family and humanity. In fact, if the subject here had been Italians, this film might have been directed by Giuseppe Tornatore ["Cinema Paradiso," "Malena"]. I agree with other reviewers who recommended that some viewers need to take a chill pill and see the humanity and universality here. VERY MUCH WORTH A LOOK. Ciao!

... and, in fact, I didn't even know the name until I came here and looked this movie up for reference to see its name. But, I watched it just last week on HBO, and I was absolutely riveted. I was flipping channels, and I ended up watching the entire thing standing up in my living room!
I have read the other reviews here, but I will say this movie captured my imagination and I found the portrayals by Lena Olin and Gabriel Byrne to be particularly stirring. Claire Danes was fine in a supporting role, but it was the tension and love between her parents which really moved me.
Perhaps my imagination was captured so readily because my family immigrated from Poland some 70 years ago, and I wanted to see this portrayal of Polish life and community. But what stayed with me was the breathless tension between Jadzia and her husband, the power this beautiful woman had over him, the confusion and strength in his silence, the seeming clumsiness of her values, their stumbling around their own lives and loves. There is something quite endearing about the wanton way in which they live and love.
It may not change the world, but this movie certainly transported me for an afternoon.
Highly recommended.

I love this movie, mainly because the city that it is set in, Hamtramck, is where my mother and grandparents were born. Being 3rd generation Polish-American in Detroit, I can really relate to this movie, Polish mothers tend to be the final word in the family, much like Lena Olin's character in the movie. Over all it's a very good movie, touching and funny, especially when Lena Olin and her four sons go after the boy who impregnated Hala (Claire Danes) with hockey sticks. It was very touching to see the church featured in the movie, St. Florian's, because it has long been an integral part of my family. A fantastic movie, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good movie that is NOT a "chick-flick" but one of those movies that makes you feel better about life in the long run.

I tend to miss the very beginning and the end of this movie, nevertheless it's a good movie. I decided to browse the reviews on it to see if I'm truely missing out on a great ending. I was surprised to see a few reviews that were pointless. Critizing the setting and the background of the story as being unbelievable, threw me way off. Apparently, there's a few things that those reviewers should know in order to better appreciate this movie.

1. In the Midwest (Detroit is considered a part of the midwest)there are cities that are still segragated (for lack of a better word) to an extend based on ethnic background. People are born, live and die without ever living outside the 2 mile radius of their neighborehoods.
2. 5th-7th generation Polish-Americans tend not to have a distinct stereotypical cartoony accent.
3. People still hang their laundry out to dry. Where do you think "Downy" got 'Summer Breeze" from?
4. Ethnic movies like this one and " My Big, Fat Greek Wedding" are usually made by people of that ethnic background. There is a difference regarding poking fun at your own background, your ethnic background, racial stereotypes, and racial truths. Both of these movies seem to be poking fun at life in general from their observation. You have to be very small minded to think that any ethnic movie represents an entire race. If you felt that these movies are stereotypes, I suppose you might say the same thing about "The Joy Luck Club" or "Soul Food".

5. And lastly, why do I feel the need to make these points? I'm from the Midwest and I noticed the reviewers who made those un-supported critisms are from the Soutn and West coast and I'm guessing have never lived in the Midwest. Polish Wedding holds true to a realistic setting that I can compare to the Polish-American neighborhoods of Milwaukee, WI, from which I was born and raised.

This movie showed disrespect for all Polish people. The person writting this movie evidently knew very little about Polish tradition or cuture. She should research her work before using involving a nationality.

If Nelson Algren were alive, he might have written this. And Poles would condemn him as they do Connelly. But this is the life of my Polish and Hispanic and Black and Irish neighbors: We lie to ourselves, we are ridiculous, we are human and corny, we love, and we ARE worthwhile. Don't pay $80, but if you're human DO see the movie when you can.

This is the worst movie I have seen in a long time. The actors' attempts to mimic Polish-American accents are laughable. Aside from a few Polish names and foods (which are usually mispronounced), there is nothing Polish about this film, neither is there a wedding. This is the most terribly mistitled movie of the year. The plot, what little there is, is juvenile; the dialog is sleep-inducing; and the acting is superficial. The negative characterization of the Catholic priest was mean and suggests that the screen writer may have had a bad parochial school experience. A stupendous waste of talent.

The polish wedding wasnt a very widely released movie this past summer, but it was a terrific. Gabriel Byre is his usual self, as well as Leno Olin. But the main star i thought was Claire Danes. She was perfectly cast and delievers and amazing performance as Chala Pzoniak..Claire is getting bigger and bigger with each picture she does, and I think more people are staring to recognize her face and become a fan of her work. Just be on the lookout for her later this year in The Mod Squad and Brokedown Palace. This girl has talent.

Great eye candy. Terrible dialogue. Terrible acting. Right now my best friend and I are really depressed that we wasted a friday evening watching this. DON'T waste 2 hrs of your time! Run away! Fast! Don't be tempted by the gorgeous and otherwise accomplished cast. The story was slow and the theme trite. Did we say excruciating?!...