Movie Spotlight: Rachel Getting Married

This movie spoke to me as an individual that enjoys watching reality with a sprinkle of melodrama on the big screen. The film is about a family disrupted by a daughter/sister who was a drug addict. The film beautifully captures all vantage points-- allowing the viewer to feel anger, pity, sympathy, and hope for the main character while experiencing similar emotions for her relatives. Anne Hathaway's portrayal of an addict in recovery sheds a truthful light on the post- abuse period. Recovery from any problem that pervasively plagues a family does not start and end with treatment. The family unit must rebuild from the ground up. Pented up resentment and painful memories are at the brink of eruption. Each individual affected by addiction is stuffed with conflicting feelings boiling just beneath the surface. The director used a documentary- style of filming to bring even more truth to this story. The rawness portrayed on screen jolted me into periods of awkwardness and discomfort with my own family. Anyone can identify with feeling trapped in one's family; despite the flaws that our relatives may have, it is not an option to walk away for good. With addiction, it is especially difficult to abandon the roles that are played out while accommodating the addict. In the end, there is no choice but to work through the pain even when we know there won't ever be the fairytale ending. If nothing else, this film was an honest portrayal of the heights and depths that love can take you.