Tuesday, May 15, 2007

WEDDING BELLES - Trainspotting for girls

A break from the norm today: WEDDING BELLES is actually a TV movie that's now available on DVD. It's worth a look because the movie is based on a script by Irvine Welsh. It's a world of poverty, crime and drug abuse relieved by black comedy and strong friendship. The lynchpin of the group of friends is a hairdresser called Amanda (Michelle Gomez) who wears too much make-up, is maniacally planning an enormous wedding, and has had plastic surgery to achieve perfectly symmetrical labia. Her best friends include Kelly (the ever-brilliant Shirley Henderson) who is suffering from emotional trauma that manifests itself in alopecia. Their friend Rhona (Shauna Macdonald) is a drug addict mourning the death of her fiance. The quartet is completed by Shaz (Kathleen McDermott) - who seems the most together until you realise she's having an affair with the local priest. It's your classic Irvine Welsh schtick: heightened reality exposing the seediness of the Edinburgh behind the tourist facade. You'd have to look hard to find a movie with a more original script or better acting.

WEDDING BELLES was shown on UK TV in March 2007 is available on Region 2 DVD.

1 comment:

  1. i have definitly never heard of this flick.

    liked trainspotting enough, but not enought to want watch wedding belles.

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