One of 2008's best films

“Rachel Getting Married” is a fantastic and gripping piece of cinema, one of the most real and emotionally moving films I have ever seen.

Filmed entirely in the style of a documentary, it tells the story of a dysfunctional family as their daughter Rachel gets married. Kym (Anne Hathaway) is the other daughter, who has just been released from rehab and now goes home to face her family. The story is a familiar one and will speak to anyone who has ever dealt with family issues.

The true strength of this movie lies not in its story but in its execution. It is a simple tale, but it is the acting, the style and the clever production design that keep this film real and keep the audience firmly planted inside the world of the movie. It is a slice of life, a simple portrayal of someone else’s world, and it is flawlessly done.

To keep the tone of a documentary, there is no music in the picture. Characters in the movie play instruments, providing a soundtrack to the film that feels entirely natural and never seems like a movie.

The acting is a superb demonstration of realistic acting, and Hathaway steals every scene. At times, scenes without her don’t come off quite as well, but her character is riveting. Strong, sweet, vulnerable and angry, I would not be surprised to see her nominated for Best Actress at the 2009 Academy Awards.

The film is heartfelt and wonderful, carrying its audience along on the journey of different people, meeting, interacting, fighting and loving. The dialogue is so realistic it might almost have been spoken by an actual family before being used in the script for this film.

Fascinating and wonderful, the film provides a window into someone else’s existence, showing us what it means to be family, to be human. Anyone who considers themselves a connoisseur of the film medium must see this movie.