Storyline

It's the early 1940s in small town Ontario. Sixteen year old Jeannie Dougall is slightly dim, naive and lacks any self-confidence, immersing herself in the romantic lives of characters she sees on the movie screen as witnessed by the pictures she has plastered on her bedroom wall. Anything that Jeannie tries that is new or different is usually a result of being egged on by her more experienced best friend, Dolly, who flaunts her burgeoning sexuality. Jeannie lives with her working class parents, Jim and Mary Dougall, Scottish immigrants who live by their conservative and religious beliefs. Jim is a member of the Honor Guard, and has a view that anyone who wears a uniform in service to the country, such as his and Mary's son Jimmie Dougall, is to be admired regardless. Jimmie's non-battle service in Canada is in munitions requisitions. One day, Jeannie announces to her mother that she believes she's pregnant from what was her only sexual encounter to date: being raped by Jimmie's soldier friend Billy when they had a few days leave during the summer. Unlike Dolly, Jeannie didn't have the power or the wherewithal to deal with drunken Billy, and was scared of the aftermath when Billy and Jimmie skulked away in the middle of the night without a word of goodbye due to Billy's act. While Mary has some sympathy for her daughter, Jim, not caring about the details, only sees in his daughter a whore who has brought shame to the family if the truth were ever to emerge, she who cannot ever be married as a wanton woman. What Jim does in dealing with the issue is all in an effort to protect what he sees as his own good name among his friends without any regard for Jeannie's life or her future, she who doesn't truly understand the consequences until she is faced with it directly in real terms.—Huggo

Plot Keywords

singing, comb, looking at oneself in a mirror, mirror, lighting a cigarette, laughter, cigarette smoking, wallet, knocking on a door, mother daughter relationship, brother sister relationship, mother son relationship, beer, shaking hands, applause, handbag, applying lipstick, umbrella, storm, rain

Short Review

Based on a true story, this play-turned-film offers a gut-wrenching look into the lives of men vs. women in the WWII era. Jeannie Dougall (Carol Kane) is a shy, naive teen who gets raped by an aggressive soldier on leave, beaten up by her "best friend," called a whore by her parents & ultimately forced into an arranged marriage with...well, I don't want to spoil the plot but suffice it to say it's a shocker. Despite being the sweetest character, she's treated the worst & abandoned by everyone who's supposed to love her which is all too relate-able. While slow in parts, Wedding in White is worth watching through to the end for its extremely realistic & emotional portrayal of gender inequality at its absolute worst. It's got layers upon layers of intergenerational trauma to unpack & will leave you with a better understanding of the biology-based oppression women & girls have faced since the beginning of time.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Amazon Video : Rent from $1.99, Or $0.00 with a Prime membership