Muriel's Wedding

 

Murials Wedding

 

‘Usually in Australian films, definitely in Australian television, definitely in American films, the central character is usually the Sophie Lee character. … Muriel in these stories is left out or consigned to a position of best friend, one to feel sorry for … I wanted to put that kind of character centre-stage and the beautiful best friend in the position of living horror’. Tom O’Regan, in Australian National Cinema (Routledge 1996),

 

Murials Wedding is the prime example of the of Australia’s self reflexive cinema.

 

The question continuously raised in Australian cinema is does cinema curve the society or does the society curve cinema. In Murial’s Wedding this case, as most it is a combination of both.

 

Murial’s Wedding has been one of the most influential films in Australian society. Its tag line “your terrible Murial” is used in everyday conversation since its release in 1994. The film never gets old and it seems this is because so many people associate with the need to escape the small town and restricted life some small Australian towns can have.

 

It’s focus on the “other girl”, Muriel also makes it appealing and very comical, thus it not only appeals to many but it appeals to our dry sense of humor. I have always loved the completely awkward situations Murial gets herself in and we have to sit through every second of it. It makes the audience realize that not all cinema is picture perfect.

 

The film also focuses on the problems and disappointments in life. Murial’s Family is far from perfect. All five of the children are underachievers to a failing town Mayor.

 

It also raises another issue, Tom O’Regan points out the film that “this a celebration of ugliness is common in Australian film.” It is seen in the plain looking protagonists in The Sentimental Bloke or in the weird and wonderful charms of Bazza McKenzie. Tom notes that Murial’s wedding celebrates this ugliness. It is claimed as one of the major 

 

The Australian humor allows us to laugh at ourselves and laugh at others this is where Muriel’s power comes in, because we have seen it before in real life.