'Monsoon Wedding' directed by Mira Nair, is the story of Aditi, a young woman who is in love with a married man, yet has acquiesced to an arranged marriage in India. Her husband-to-be is fairly Americanized, having studied abroad, and is planning on taking his new bride to America after they marry.
The story takes place during the important four days before the wedding, featuring the various parties and engagement ceremony until the eventual wedding itself. During this time, there are several subplots revealed, involving fledgling love, the institution of family in India, and buried family scandal.
Nair provides a very beautiful setting for the film, the most prominent feature within this setting being the incredible bright colors of the wedding decorations and wardrobe. Using what are presumably true aspects of Indian tradition, she presents us with gorgeous ceremonies and a fantastic soundtrack. 'Monsoon Wedding' isn't merely eye candy however; there is a rich story and good performances to back up the presentation. Characters who, on the onset seem to be shallow or even repugnant in the early portion of the film develop into full and likable characters. There are several primary roles in the film, so no one actor has a breakout role, though P.K (Vijay Raaz), the wedding planner and Ria (Shefali Shetty), a cousin of the bride to be are both especially engaging.
'Monsoon Wedding' is an enjoyable film that wasn't particularly fantastic, but it did have some beautiful aspects to it, and the story was very well told, something that isn't always a given when most obvious attention has been given to the aesthetic of the film. 6/10.
--Shelly
The story takes place during the important four days before the wedding, featuring the various parties and engagement ceremony until the eventual wedding itself. During this time, there are several subplots revealed, involving fledgling love, the institution of family in India, and buried family scandal.
Nair provides a very beautiful setting for the film, the most prominent feature within this setting being the incredible bright colors of the wedding decorations and wardrobe. Using what are presumably true aspects of Indian tradition, she presents us with gorgeous ceremonies and a fantastic soundtrack. 'Monsoon Wedding' isn't merely eye candy however; there is a rich story and good performances to back up the presentation. Characters who, on the onset seem to be shallow or even repugnant in the early portion of the film develop into full and likable characters. There are several primary roles in the film, so no one actor has a breakout role, though P.K (Vijay Raaz), the wedding planner and Ria (Shefali Shetty), a cousin of the bride to be are both especially engaging.
'Monsoon Wedding' is an enjoyable film that wasn't particularly fantastic, but it did have some beautiful aspects to it, and the story was very well told, something that isn't always a given when most obvious attention has been given to the aesthetic of the film. 6/10.
--Shelly