Watch A Wedding

A Wedding is a 1978 comedy-drama film directed by Robert Altman and written by Altman and John Considine. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Carol Burnett, Desi Arnaz Jr., Paul Dooley, Mia Farrow, Geraldine Chaplin, Dina Merrill, Nina Van Pallandt, and Vittorio Gassman, among others. The film is set during a wedding ceremony between the Dino Corelli and Muffin Brenner families in the wealthy Chicago suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois. The Corellis are a wealthy Italian-American family who made their fortune in the construction business, while the Brenners are a well-to-do Jewish family who own a chain of department stores. The film follows the preparations leading up to the wedding, the wedding ceremony itself, and the reception that follows.

As the two families come together for the wedding, it quickly becomes evident that there are tensions and conflicts beneath the surface. The film explores the complex relationships and issues that arise throughout the course of the day, from infidelity and betrayal to class divisions and family secrets. Altman employs his trademark ensemble style, with multiple characters and storylines interweaving throughout the film.

The cast of characters is large and varied. Carol Burnett plays Tulip Brenner, the mother of the bride and the matriarch of the Brenner family. Desi Arnaz Jr. portrays Dino Corelli, the groom and scion of the Corelli family. Paul Dooley plays Walter, the wedding planner hired by the Brenners. Mia Farrow plays the Brenners' maid of honor, while Vittorio Gassman plays the Corelli family patriarch.

The film's style is distinctive and immersive, with Altman's trademark use of overlapping dialogue and long takes adding to the sense of realism and immediacy. The wedding sequence itself is particularly impressive, with dozens of characters and subplots all coming together in a chaotic and vibrant celebration.

Despite its reputation as a comedy-drama, A Wedding is a deeply cynical film that skewers the excesses and superficiality of the upper class. The film is a pointed commentary on the American obsession with wealth and status, as well as the dysfunction and dysfunctionality of family life.

At its core, A Wedding is a film about the complexities and contradictions of human relationships. Altman deftly illuminates the many ways in which our interests, desires, and fears intersect and collide. The film is a rich exploration of the ties that bind us together, and the ways in which those bonds can be both sustaining and suffocating.

Overall, A Wedding is a masterful work of cinema that showcases Altman's unique vision and skill as a director. The film is a rich and complex portrait of American society and the human condition, and it remains a powerful statement on the nature of family, love, and identity.