How did she not get recognised for her performance? Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths and Bill Hunter all do fanstastically in this film yet Jeanie Drynan, who played Muriel's mother did a fantastic job, actually made a background character one of the most tragic in the film yet got no recognition?
Wild! I was absolutely Livid!
Every scene Jeanie Drynan is in is heartbreaking (once you have already seen the film all the way through). However, it's her photo in the family album that Muriel and Joanie are looking through after her death that gets me in bits every time. She was happy just being part of the family and being a Mum and so she overlooked just how neglected she was.
shareI forgot about that part. Just thinking about her face in the picture makes me sad. She just wanted to celebrate with Muriel because she was so happy that she was getting married and didn't even get any notice and it's basically like she didn't exist. She could have not gone to her wedding and no one would have known. It's sad that only after she dies Muriel thinks of her and realizes how she treated her.
shareWhats heartbreaking about the film is that only a select few (Muriel included) seemed to be impacted by her death. Joanie was obviously upset and I think the boys deep down may have been affected but Bill was just a piece of *beep* and I am not going to defend him at all. He was a crap husband and a crap father. The only thing that concerned him was who was at the funeral and the press. I like to think later down the line it would hit him. Penelope also seemed very unaffected by her mothers death talking about a boy she liked going to the funeral. It was incredibly heartbreaking.
shareThis character, the story, reading these posts makes me so sad. Everyone go hug your Mom, or if she is not there, go do something nice for a Mom you know who is underappreciated.
sharethis movie popped up on SKYTVNZ today and i have to say i only watch it for Jeanie. Sure this is a magically tragic movie but for i all the moments i remember that moment when Muriel's mum is in the supermarket and puts the shoes on. . . OMG i cry every time she is just the most human character. Bill Hunter is brilliant as the awful husband.
can't believe its been over 20 years since this film came out. when i was 20 i identified with Muriel now in my 40's i also identify with her mum.
I have known all these characters in my life and been some of them.
Proof that this film is 10/10 in my book