My Mother's Wedding (2023)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

When three sisters return home to England to attend their mother’s third wedding, hard truths are uncovered, and the dramatic, trying pasts of everyone involved rise to the surface. My Mother’s Wedding extends itself far beyond the titular event, deeply analyzing the relationship between siblings, their parents, and the numerous acquaintances that have come and gone over the years. 

Scarlett Johansson (Katherine) certainly has a thing for accents. First her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then Jojo Rabbit, and now My Mother’s Wedding, each of which she’s tasked with adopting a different accent–none being her traditional, American accent. I feel that it’s rare to find American actors taking on the role of a foreigner, as it’s typically the other way around (i.e. Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland–the list goes on and one). All this to say that Johansson is one of the biggest names in Hollywood for a reason, a powerful presence on any film set, and even more talented than I think she’s often given credit. My Mother’s Wedding is just the next in a long catalog of impressive works, and Johansson does a stellar job of leading a talented cast through both a comedic and tragic narrative. 

Black and white, almost noir-esque animated visuals are interspersed throughout the course of My Mother’s Wedding. While the tone of the film is often whimsical (certainly with darker, more dramatic tones beneath the surface), the animated scenes exist on a plane of their own, being the clear juxtaposition to that aforementioned whimsy, and introducing viewers to the darker past of the three sisters. 

Similar to the animated bits that help to develop a darker tone, there are subtle instances in which each of the characters are provided the opportunity to develop suspense, drama, and emotion in a way that puzzles viewers, but introduces viewers–a handful of times–to the idea that there’s something harrowing that exists in the recesses of this family’s history. My Mother’s Wedding relies heavily on the nuances that exist within the blurry, but clearly dilapidated past of this family. Three sisters, Katherine, Victoria (Sienna Miller), and Georgina (Emily Beecham), along with their mother, Diana (Kristin Scott Thomas), have experienced trauma that has transcended their lives, altered their livelihoods, and played a pivotal role in the family dynamic. Just about everything comes to light at some point in My Mother’s Wedding; and whether it’s present in a subtle or aggressive way, it works in the grand scheme of this film. 

The chemistry of each of these actors brings to life a narrative that could have potentially fallen to the wayside, and failed to entice viewers. On the surface, there’s not much here to intrigue viewers, and even less to warrant a feature-length film. However, The trio of Johansson, Miller, and Beecham creates something prolific, dramatically engaging, and transcendent in the world of cinema. My Mother’s Wedding is far more powerful than I could have anticipated, and I feel that it’s likely Johansson’s strongest performance since Marriage Story. 

Directed by Kristin Scott Thomas. 

Written by Kristin Scott Thomas & John Micklethwait. 

Starring Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller, Emily Beecham, Kristin Scott Thomas, etc. 

8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING