Polish Wedding

It was on this day in 1998 that Polish Wedding was released to U.S. audiences. The only movie by writer-director Theresa Connelly, Polish Wedding stars Claire Danes as Hala, a young woman dealing with her large Polish family and its small Detroit community. Things get complicated when Hala, slated to have her virginity honored at the church festival, becomes pregnant. The soon-to-be parents are forced to marry–the inevitable celebration referred to in the title. Also starring a high caliber supporting cast with Lena Olin and Gabriel Byrne as Hala’s complicated parents, Polish Wedding has its national and international festival premieres that same year at Sundance and Berlin, respectively.

Connections: This was the second time Polish Wedding co-stars Claire Danes and Gabriel Byrne appeared in the same film. Four years previous both had significant roles in Gillian Armstrong’s Little Women.