Wedding in White (Canada, 1972) 103 min color DIR-SCR: William Fruet. PROD: John Vidette. MUSIC: Milan Lymlicka. DOP: Richard Leiterman. CAST: Carol Kane, Donald Pleasence, Doris Petrie, Doug McGrath, Paul Bradley. (Cinepix)
This very good film was William Fruet’s first effort as writer-director (adapted from his own play) after penning the screenplays for Goin’ Down the Road and Rip-Off. Set during World War II, Carol Kane gives a fine dramatic performance as a young woman raped and impregnated by her brother’s drunken soldier pal (Doug McGrath). (Her brother is played by McGrath’s Goin’ Down the Road co-star Paul Bradley. These two were everywhere in the early 1970s.) Her unborn child is the catalyst for the dissolution of the family unit, despite the attempts of the father figure (Donald Pleasence, excellent) to hold it together.
Filmed in the backwoods, whose harsh, primitive nature reflects the human nature of its characters, this sad film (lensed with Richard Leiterman’s trademark documentary-like gritty authenticity a la Goin’ Down the Road) is also to be lauded for its bristling performances and uncompromising script that bravely offers no easy resolutions.