Review

Will you marry us?

a 2009 Swiss-German comedy:

By Madelene Wightman

The film Will you marry us? is Directed by Micha Lewinsky, with Marie Leuenberger and Dominique Jann Oriana Schrage playing the lead roles. Personally I haven't laughed so much at a film since 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'. In fact, 'Will you marry us' is comical in a very similar way. The characters, being at the mercy of unruly emotions do and say embarrassing things in the most inappropriate of settings (such as other people's weddings and in nice restaurants). However, the plot line has more in common with 'The Wedding Planner' featuring Jennifer Lopez as a wedding organiser who falls in love with the groom.

In an idyllic Swiss village, Rahel Hubli is working at the local registry office, that she travels to by bike each day. Her job is to join couples in civil marriage ceremonies. Rahel has a rather difficult, cranky boss, and a loving, sympathetic assistant, with whom she shares an office. The assistant proves to be a little over-exciteable as the story progresses, a fact which adds to the comedy of the film. Rahel has a nice, easy career without too many challenges. Yet Rachel suffers a little from the many young, happy couples that walk into her office, (a never-ending series of the happiest days of people's lives and relationships). Over time, she is forced to admit to herself that her marriage to Thomas no longer feels right. Thomas is a graphic designer who apparently works very long hours in the office. Rachel spends most of her alone or with their son Flo and can't seem to get it through to Thomas that this pattern is ruining their marriage. The pain that Rahel feels at being neglected is all the more painful because of her job. She wonders whether these couples will become like her and her husband and whether true, long-lasting love really exists.

Against this backdrop, Ben, who was previously Rahel's best friend unexpectedly appears back in town after over ten years. It so happens that when she runs into Ben, Rahel is in a shop buying dozens of relationship self-help books. The situation is embarrassing but because of their previous close bond, Rahel is able to be a little open about her relationship with Thomas. In the brief, initial encounter between them, Ben divulges that he has come from Berlin to Switzerland to marry his girlfriend, who is a German starlet. He asks if Rahel will perform the marriage ceremony for them and Rahel responds enthusiastically.

However, all is not well. Although Ben and Rahel were only ever good friends and co-performers in their band, the friends have always secretly been in love with one another at different times. Later it turns out that Ben wrote one of the love songs that they performed together, for Rahel. However, it was at this time that the band broke up, partly due to Rahel's pregnancy by Thomas. Part of the cause of this was Ben and Rahel failing to make their feelings known to each other at the right time! Rahel is torn as to whether she should actually go ahead and perform the marriage between Ben and Tinka, or be honest about her feelings and refuse to do it.

Yet all is not lost for Ben and Rahel. Gradually a way forward (which lets them both of the hook) begins to emerge.

Firstly it turns out that Thomas is actually having an affair with a rather peculiar woman that we never get to know. Ben's fiancee, Tinka, turns out to be so spoilt and demanding (and unsuitable for Ben), that the audience loses sympathy for her too. The breaking of both relationships are an opportunity for much of the hilarity of the film. Rahel ends up throwing a Tirimisu over Thomas' head in front of his strange mistress. Tinka ends up being humiliated on the wedding day by Rahel's long and highly inappropriate address at the ceremony. However, both these events accident due to a chain of unexpected and unsolicited events. Rahel accidentally bumps into Thomas and mistress at the restaurant where she is arranging Ben's reception.

The wedding ceremony is only carried out by Rahel (rather than one of her colleagues) because of her cranky boss' insensitive persistence that it should be Rahel who performs the ceremony.

This leads to a long, poetic monologue about the perils of 'boarding a boat on the river of life with the wrong person'. It is undoubtedly the funniest part of the film and I have searched in vain for a transcript of the Rahel's unguarded diatribe.

The film's original title is the German for 'The Registrar' (Die Standesbeamtim). Personally I find the English title, 'Will you marry us' to be unfortunate since it sounds childish to speakers of English as a first language. However, beyond this is an amusing, entertaining film. It was probably dismissed by many men as a 'chick-flick' since it is a romantic comedy. Yet some of the dialogues are extremely clever, being highly descriptive, hilarious and thought provoking. Rahel's monologue at the wedding is actually quite thought provoking, although this only sinks in subconsciously, as the viewer is too busy laughing and wondering what she is going to say next.

I don't believe that the film was intended primarily to carry a serious message. Yet the story contains many elements that a lot of people in every culture can relate to; being in a painful and awkward situation, particularly relating to romance and not knowing what to do about it. The viewer can predict the end of the film a long way off, yet this does not detract from the story and does not make it any less enjoyable.

Berlin-born Marie Leuenberger, an accomplished young actress plays Rahel in 'Will you marry us?' Her Swiss accent must either due to growing up in Switzerland or perfectly rehearsed. Her co-star, Ben, played by Dominique Jann, speaks with a cultivated accent which made the German easy to understand. Even the Swiss expressions were understandable and obviously a lot of care has been taken to ensure that the film is as widely understandable as possible.

As with Vitus, the other Swiss film that I have reviewed from the European Festival, Will you marry us? showcases the beauty of Swiss landscapes as well as the 'chocolate box' style villages. I would highly recommend the film for a couple of hours of light entertainment and given the opportunity would happily watch it again.