Oscar nominee: Best Foreign Language Film
I found After the Wedding to be a pretty basic drama. There was really nothing special about it, especially not when compared to the other nominees in this category. It’s different than those films, though, as it remains on a personal level while all the others deal with grander themes. It’s essentially a family drama, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but while watching the film I couldn’t escape the feeling that I had seen it all before. I felt all along as if I knew what was going to happen next, and I was right most of the time. It’s a shame really, because with a less predictable plot this could have been a really good film. All the acting performances are good, the music is great and really adds to the melancholic feel of the film (any film that uses a track from Sigur Rós‘ () album is bound to be depressing), and the cinematography is great as well. The film also raises some interesting ethical dilemmas, but again, nothing really new. So despite all the good things, this film left my mind pretty much as soon at it was over, and that was a big letdown compared to some of the other films I’ve seen lately.
