Author: Shari K. Green

A devoutly religious woman by the name of Michal (Koler), an Orthodox Jew, is dumped by her fiancé, Gidi, as they are making their wedding plans.  He acts strangely; she asks ‘why;’ he scolds her to put it all on her and then tells her he doesn’t love her.  Nice guy.  Regardless, it breaks her heart and she feels terrible about herself.  She wants to know what is wrong with her but being a woman who never questions God she knows she is loved by Him; therefore, he has a divine plan.  This being the case than the proposed ceremony should still go on.  It isn’t Gidi she needs to love her; God does and He will provide.  She has to believe it and trust Him.

So, from Shimi, the man who owns the wedding hall, Michal keeps the date as it was, (the eighth night of Hanukkah) books the hall and sends out the invitations to her guests.  Her groom will come.  This is a small task for God to get her a husband.  She may lack courage but he is omniscient.  So, with faith in hand, she gets some matchmakers on the job so she can meet more men to speed up the process of the remaining days for her prince to come. 

These men are, we’ll say, interesting!  One captivating scene is with a quirky man who won’t look at her because he only wants to gaze upon his wife.  He does like her and during this blind date, actually, proposes.  I’ll let you find out what happens next but it is amusing and their behavior is thought-provoking.  Everything she does is thought provoking.  It’s quite something watching her grow as a person.  Maybe because she cleanses herself by admitting that she desperate and doesn’t want to be alone anymore but in searching for someone to love her she’s finding her true self; her own identity, something she doesn’t think she poses or has the right to.  She tells her Rabbi, who is appauled she’s asking for a miracle, that she isn’t asking anything from God, only asking herself to believe in His plan.  However, she does want to know, at this point, why she was created if she’s a phony with little hope.  Still, she remains resolute.

She sees her sister in a crazy marriage of fighting for the other’s attention and she doesn’t want this but wants the life of a married woman, even if that’s what she ends up with.  She wants a life where she isn’t only being invited places but is doing the inviting.  She wants respect and she knows this will all come from having a spouse.  At thirty-two, Michal thinks she’s practically a spinster.  As the date she’s given herself to find Mr. Right draws near, family and friends are starting to have doubt but she’s holding firm.  Of the blind dates she’s endured, one possible match, Assaf, has stood out above the rest.  He may be the one but it seems he won’t be back in town before the day of the wedding.  She meets a gorgeous, very sweet, genuine, caring popstar, Yos (Zehavi) who is interested in her.  She’s almost certain he’s having fun with her but will he be the one?

I really enjoyed this movie!  It’s a great concept and the execution couldn’t have been better.  The cast was absolutely outstanding and the music!  Oh, the music is wonderful.  Soundtrack purchase for this gal!  The songs Yos sings are heard throughout the movie and they’re deep and meaningful and each piece is piercing and memorable.  Zehavi is beautiful in the film and gives the audience the glimmer of hope that Michal will be fine in the end.  Koler, in her first film role, took Michal on and showed her strengths, her weaknesses; she was cute, charming, she was nasty and could be cruel.  She was incredibly honest in her betrayal of someone who has always hidden from the truth.  I recommend The Wedding Plan highly.  I had a visceral reaction to this film because I got so involved in Michal’s outcome that I may or may not have hit the screen a few times.  Anyway, it is in subtitles but you can handle it.  It’s a marvelous story… one that comes down to the wedding day.  She’s at the alter in her dress; waiting.  Will someone come?  If so, is it the right one… the one you want her to be with?  Watch and find out.

Phoenix!  It’s playing starting today at Harkins Camelview at Fashion Square!