Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Films

Related: TV discussion forum.

Original poster

Muriel's Wedding is just so damn sad

59 replies

Hassled · 13/06/2018 22:00

She has so many issues - such an awful father, such a desperate mother. When she walks back down the aisle and doesn't even notice her mother there it makes me want to weep. Why does Muriel think marriage will give her value to such an extent? She didn't get that from her parents' marriage. And while she says that life with Rhonda is better than an Abba song, she's a shit friend to her.

I've watched it before and laughed, but tonight I watched it and just thought how horribly sad it is and what a dysfunctional, chaotic girl she is.

OP posts:
Meandyouandyouandme · 14/06/2018 22:44

Yes Hassled it’s very good, and is probably not as sad as Muriel’s Wedding, I highly recommend Smile

CoolCarrie · 15/06/2018 18:36

The Dish is so funny, as is one of my absolute favourites, Strictly Ballroom. The Castle is another excellent funny Aussie film,and the classic Picnic At Hanging Rock.

CoolCarrie · 15/06/2018 18:42

And yes, Muriel’s Wedding is very sad, I saw the first 20 again a couple of weeks ago, and had to turn it off as I remembered how it panned out.
Daniel Lapaine who played the South African swimmer is married to Fay Ripley

iklboo · 15/06/2018 19:00

It's a great film. Like The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert there's so many layers to it.

dietofstrangeplaces · 20/06/2018 10:21

I'm so glad someone else likes The Way Way Back, noone else seems to have seen it.

TeaAddict235 · 20/06/2018 10:30

I love that film. It's one of my favourite! Toni Collette is one of my favourite actresses, she is so expressive and intense as an actress. Her roles are very centre stage even if she isn't the lead. I also think that she's really graceful and naturally pretty too.

Yutes · 22/06/2018 20:39

I absolutely love Muriel’s Wedding. I think Australia make some really interesting films.

Vitalogy · 09/07/2018 22:15

One of my favourite films. Makes me laugh and cry. Love Toni Collette. Loved her in Little Miss Sunshine too, another favourite.

So many sad bits but the funniest being the bean bag bursting I think.

I think Australia make some really interesting films. They certainly do don't they. I watched one the other week from 1991, with Russell Crowe and Hugo Weaving called Proof, thought it very good. Another couple off the top of my head, Tracks and Rabbit Proof Fence, excellent.

InfiniteVariety · 21/07/2018 11:50

"Rabbit-Proof Fence" makes me blub every time

RiverTam · 21/07/2018 11:56

The Dish! Loved that film, must look out for it.

Agree Muriel is very multi-layered, and the older I’ve got the sadder I’ve found it, I don’t know if I could watch it now.

Agree both Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths are great actors.

Degustibusnonestdisputandem1 · 21/07/2018 11:58

I'm Australian and yes, it's very much dark comedy. My favourite Aussie film of that sort of era is The Castle, it's pretty much the most Victorian film of its time ever ❤️

Degustibusnonestdisputandem1 · 21/07/2018 12:00

The Dish is another favourite, my parents said it really captured 1960s rural Australia.

Degustibusnonestdisputandem1 · 21/07/2018 12:02

Oh and Picnic at Hanging Rock is just beautiful. It really captures the dreamy, otherworldly feel of the Aussie bush on a still hot summers day (I remember climbing all over/through the rock as a kid..../shudder)

BakedBeans47 · 21/07/2018 12:05

It’s sad, although I suppose ultimately uplifting as Muriel leaves with Rhonda. The story with her poor wee mum is heartbreaking.

Toni Collette is a super actress

Vitalogy · 21/07/2018 12:44

Thanks for all the film recommendations, I've noted them down.

Any more?

Some other Aussie films I liked, would Lion count?? A young Russell Crowe in The Crossing (1990) and The Sum of Us (1994).
Oyster Farmer (2004) with Alex O'Lachlan.

slug · 21/07/2018 13:46

The Castle. "Oh the serenity". Bloody loved that film

Degustibusnonestdisputandem1 · 21/07/2018 18:11

Tell 'im e's dreamin! LOVE it 😁. It helps that I know the places they go to very well indeed! Can't wait to move back to vic next year

lots33 · 21/07/2018 18:13

Flirting is another amazing Aussie black comedy.

Yutes · 21/07/2018 18:14

YY to Rabbit Proof Fence.
The Proposition is great.
Wolf Creek is terrifying.
The Loved Ones is great.

I do love Toni Collete though.

Yutes · 21/07/2018 18:16

Another good Australian film called Uninhabited

Flaminghaggis · 21/07/2018 18:16

I always felt sad about a scene in a film I’d seen where a lady steals flip flops. It wasn’t till i watched Muriel’s wedding a decade later that I realised where I had seen it.

Vitalogy · 21/07/2018 18:18

I'm taking note, thank you.

Sevendown · 21/07/2018 18:24

I love Muriel’s wedding!

I wonder if the three Barbie girls were inspiration for mean girls a few years later?

It’s got so many developed female characters.

It’s a shame the message about marriage not being a means to identity hasn’t sunk in for this generation.

And as for Aussie films there are so many hidden gems!

I remember watching a cry in the dark a good few times years ago. It’s such a dark look at Australian society.

Degustibusnonestdisputandem1 · 21/07/2018 21:05

Looking forward to seeing this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SwingingSafari(film)

BikeRunSki · 21/07/2018 21:11

I’ve never thought of MW a