“Top End Wedding” is a rom-com with an adventurous twist.
It’s like “Eat Pray Love” meets “Bridesmaids.”
The film follows the journey of a young couple, Lauren and Ned, racing against the clock to find Lauren’s estranged mother before their wedding in the stunningly beautiful Top End of Australia.
It’s a wild goose chase full of bumps, surprises and heartwarming moments.
The cinematography showcases the breathtaking landscapes of Australia, and the soundtrack is a perfect blend of pop and indigenous music.
Overall, it’s a feel-good movie that will leave you smiling long after it’s over.
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Review
Top End Wedding is a movie that captures the hearts of many. The story is about a couple who has to find the bride’s mother before their wedding. But the movie is much more than just that. It is a journey of self-discovery, family love, and cultural identity. Directed by Wayne Blair, the film was released in 2019 and stars Miranda Tapsell and Gwilym Lee.
The plot of Top End Wedding revolves around Lauren (Miranda Tapsell) and Ned (Gwilym Lee) who are engaged to be married. Just days before their wedding, Lauren’s mother disappears without any explanation. The couple embarks on a journey to find her in Darwin, which leads them into an adventure filled with obstacles as they discover more about themselves, their heritage, and what really matters in life.
One of the most notable aspects of Top End Wedding is its representation of Indigenous Australians. The lead actress and co-writer Miranda Tapsell is Indigenous herself and has ensured that her culture is celebrated throughout the movie.
As Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” And Top End Wedding definitely makes its audience feel something special.
The chemistry between the two leads is evident from the start and it progresses organically throughout the film. Their interactions are heartfelt and genuine as they navigate through their differences and work towards building common ground.
The supporting cast does an outstanding job as well with Ursula Yovich playing Lauren’s uncle who operates a water buffalo farm in Kakadu National Park and Shari Sebbens playing Lauren’s childhood friend, whose wedding inspired Lauren’s own plans for her big day.
The soundtrack of Top End Wedding also deserves recognition as it showcases some incredible talents from Northern Australia such as Thelma Plum, Dan Sultan, Jessica Mauboy and Gawurra.
The film also features stunning cinematography that showcases the rugged beauty of Northern Australia. The scenery and landscapes are breathtaking, making it clear why the Top End region is such a special place.
The movie was filmed on location in Darwin and Katherine, which gave the cast and crew an opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the Northern Territory. This aspect certainly shines through in the final product.
While Top End Wedding is a feel-good movie, it also tackles some serious issues such as cultural identity, family relationships and dealing with loss. These issues are handled with warmth and respect, without ever feeling heavy-handed or preachy.
As Maya Angelou once said, “I don’t trust people who don’t love themselves and tell me ‘I love you.’ … There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.” And this message is one that echoes throughout Top End Wedding: learning to love yourself first before you can truly love someone else.
The production team behind Top End Wedding has certainly been well recognised for their work. The film won Best Original Score at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards 2019. Miranda Tapsell also won Best Actress at Sydney Film Festival Awards 2019 for her charismatic performance as Lauren.
In conclusion, Top End Wedding is a must-watch movie for anyone who loves rom-coms or wants to celebrate diversity on screen. It’s an engaging and creative story that combines humour, heartbreak and self-discovery in equal measure. As Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” And this movie certainly makes its audience feel unforgettable emotions long after the credits began rolling.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 113
- Release : 2019-05-02
- Genre : Comedy
- Cast : Miranda Tapsell as Lauren, Gwilym Lee as Ned, Kerry Fox as Hampton, Ursula Yovich as Daffy Ford, Huw Higginson as Trevor Ford
- Crew : Chris Plummer as Editor, Wayne Blair as Director, Tom Heuzenroeder as Sound Effects Editor, Rosemary Blight as Producer, Ben Grant as Executive Producer
- Popularity 3.422
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : $3,681,669
- Company : Goalpost Pictures, Screen Australia
- Summary : Lauren and Ned are engaged, they are in love, and they have just ten days to find Lauren’s mother who has gone AWOL somewhere in the remote far north of Australia, reunite her parents and pull off their dream wedding.
- Tagline : When you’re feeling lost, family will guide you home.
