From the synopsis alone, The Wedding Song seems like a gut wrenching watch, that's what I thought at least. However Karin Albou has a good hand at crafting narratives without reverting to any cheap tropes to solely evoke emotion. Not that there isn't enough here to get all riled up about, it's just never done for the sake of sensationalism.
The story is laden with serious themes and undertones... race, religion, class, patriarchy, sexual rights - you name it and it's here. Yet the story is completely character driven, focusing wholly on the two girls and their struggles through the social and economical hardships which have been bestowed upon them.
Lizzie Brocheré and Olympe Borval steal every scene, their endearing friendship feels authentic and their suffering just makes you want to reach out a hand to help.
Although I didn't feel quite satisfied by the end credits, I was certainly engrossed in every scene and emersed in this story of far away and long ago.
