________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 13 . . . . March 2, 2001

cover Just a Wedding.

Beverly Shaffer (Director). Gerry Flahive (Producer).
Montreal, PQ: National Film Board of Canada, 1999.
56 min., 38 sec., VHS, $39.95.
Order Number: C9199 108.

Subject Headings:
Sexuality and reproduction.
Women-Portraits.
People with disabilities.

Grades 10 and up / Ages 15 and up.

Review by Stephanie Yamniuk.

**** /4

excerpt:

He's a hick; she's from the big city.
He loves his car and loud music; she's possessed by the spirit of Martha Stewart.
He wants to go fishing; she wants to bring her hair dryer.
He likes to dance; she was born with spina bifida. (from video cover)
Nadia DeFranco and Dennis Sweet met over the Internet. They meet and fall in love in almost fairy-tale like style. But it's not all knights-in-shining-armor stuff. This down-to-earth story shows the couple as they discover each other and themselves. What do they want from life? From a relationship? And eventually, from a marriage? Once they've established the fact that they are very different people, Nadia and Dennis decide to embrace these differences and work towards building a marriage. But first, they must plan the wedding together. Anyone thinking of planning a wedding must see this true picture of compromise, taking turns being right, and what it means for two very different people with very different perspectives to plan their perfect wedding. Nadia, who comes from a big Italian family, has very definitive ideas of what a wedding is: 200 guests, $20,000 minimum, embossed menus and name tags at each dinner plate, and lots of gifts. Being born with spina bifida, she also comes from a very protective family that is concerned that Dennis is the right person and that he will treat her with respect and give her lots of attention. Dennis is a more simple guy, soft-spoken and down-to-earth, who could print the invitations and menus himself on his home computer and plan the wedding for about $3,000.

      This is a fantastic video for senior-high students who may be planning to get married and need a dose of reality. I highly recommend this film for people of all ages.

Highly Recommended.

Stephanie Yamniuk works at the University of Manitoba and is a freelance writer.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - March 2, 2001.

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