Polish Wedding (1998)

42% of critics liked it
(36 reviews)
50% of users liked it
(5,079 ratings)

Theresa Connelly makes her directorial debut with her own screenplay, a semi-autobiographical romantic comedy-drama, set in working-class Detroit, about a large Polish-American family run by matriarch Jadzia Pzoniak (Lena Olin). Her four boys obey her, but adolescent Hala (Claire Danes) is… More Theresa Connelly makes her directorial debut with her own screenplay, a semi-autobiographical romantic comedy-drama, set in working-class Detroit, about a large Polish-American family run by matriarch Jadzia Pzoniak (Lena Olin). Her four boys obey her, but adolescent Hala (Claire Danes) is rebellious and independent. Although happily married to bakery worker Bolek (Gabriel Byrne), Jadzia engages in an almost-open affair with Roman (Rade Serbedzija). Hala sneaks off for late-night trysts with her handsome neighbor Russell Schuster (Adam Trese), resulting in her pregnancy. After her parents learn the news, Russell is forced to marry Hala, and a big Polish wedding is planned. Shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Theresa Connelly
Written By: Theresa Connelly
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 17, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Apr 17, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Tom Keogh, Film.com
Polish Wedding is a confident, light drama.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
A nearly laugh-free comedy!
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Polish Wedding captures family's highs and lows.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Too many scenes float above reality!
Greg Muskewitz, eFilmCritic.com
And you wondered why they have so many Polish jokes? Here's one.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Although the film lacks the charm of the ethnic gem Moonstruck, it does justice in its own idiosyncratic way to the unpredictable course of love.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Leigh R

Pretty well done. Loved Danes vulnerability throughout film.
Mark A

Polish Wedding is a largely forgettable movie about a free spirited girl, Hala (Claire Danes), and her earthy, sensual mom, Jadzia (Lena Olin) and sad sack father, Bolek (Gabriel Byrne). Hala runs the streets at night, while her mom is having an affair with a guy at work, and her dad… More
Polish Wedding is a largely forgettable movie about a free spirited girl, Hala (Claire Danes), and her earthy, sensual mom, Jadzia (Lena Olin) and sad sack father, Bolek (Gabriel Byrne). Hala runs the streets at night, while her mom is having an affair with a guy at work, and her dad sits at home and mopes. The polish accents sounded forced, and were entirely unnecessary, but must have been meant to emphasize that these people were outsiders. This viewer found them annoying. The story followed a fairly predictable arc and the only thing that kept this viewer engaged was the radiant beauty of Ms Danes. Three stars, just for her.
Sunil J

Cute. Lena Olin and Claire Danes are very good in this.