Muriel's Wedding

Muriel's Wedding is a 1994 Australian movie written and directed by P. J. Hogan and starring Toni Collette as Muriel, and Rachel Griffiths as her sensible and down to earth friend Rhonda. Collette received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role, and the worldwide success of this film furthered the international careers of Hogan, Collette and Griffiths.

Related Topics:
1994 - Australia - P. J. Hogan - Toni Collette - Rachel Griffiths - Golden Globe Award

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Muriel is a socially awkward and naïve ugly duckling, which causes a group of "more modern" girls that she thought were her friends to oust her out of their group of friends. She is also a perpetual daydreamer who yearns not for a marriage but for a wedding which will elevate her from her personal limitations and the tedium of her life. She leaves her family behind in Porpoise Spit (a fictional place which in reality is the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia) to live in Sydney and follow her dream.

Related Topics:
Ugly duckling - Gold Coast - Queensland - Sydney

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Muriel's Wedding is ostensibly a comedy but also deals with such issues as cancer and suicide, and the overriding theme of following one's dream is regularly punctuated by scenes depicting the disappointment and loss of self esteem that accompanies the quest, and the harsh realities that Muriel must face in order to achieve real growth.

Related Topics:
Cancer - Suicide

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The movie is noted for its use of the songs of ABBA to form almost its entire musical soundtrack. Songwriters Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson have steadfastly refused to allow their songs to be exploited by inclusion in films that they did not think appropriate. They were sufficiently impressed by the script for Muriel's Wedding and the intentions of director P.J. Hogan to make an uncharacteristic exception, even allowing one of their hits, "Dancing Queen" to be adapted in an orchestral manner.

Related Topics:
ABBA - Björn Ulvaeus - Benny Andersson - Dancing Queen

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