Rosa’s Wedding

Self-marriage – or sologamy as it has now been coined – has really taken off in the 21st century. Women, and even sometimes men, jump through all the usual obstacles of organising a wedding, only to be missing the main ingredient of a partner at the end of the aisle. First reported in the early 90s, the trend gained momentum in the 2010s and is now a common practice women are taking on to commit to their independence and self-love. Spanish director Iciar Bollain has taken this phenomenon and created an incredibly sweet and uplifting film in Rosa’s Wedding.  

Rosa (Candela Peña) is in her mid-40s and doing everything for everyone but nothing for herself. On top of juggling an intense job as a seamstress on a film set, she’s frequently babysitting her divorcing brother’s children; her widowed father has moved himself in to her apartment without her consent; one friend has dropped her cat on her to look after; and another has suddenly left 50 plants on her doorstep to keep alive. Being poked and prodded from every angle, Rosa’s mid-life crisis climaxes, and she spontaneously escapes to her hometown of Benicàssim to recoup. Upon deciding to re-open her late mother’s dress shop, she embarks on her journey of self-discovery by marrying herself. 

With the tie that binds them suddenly MIA, Rosa’s family starts to fall apart. Her endearingly frustrating siblings Armando (Sergi López) and Violeta (Nathalie Poza) begin to crack. Her father Antonio (Ramón Barea) has lost his unofficial and unnecessary carer. And her daughter Lidia (Paula Usero), essentially a single mother to twins, has no idea where she is. The family then all come together for Rosa’s unexpected announcement of a wedding, unaware of the unconventionality of it all. Of course, chaos then ensues.

Rosa is immediately a likeable and relatable presence. Frazzled and worn out in the beginning, it’s pleasing to watch a hard-working woman gradually find the value in herself. Peña is wonderful as Rosa and brings a certain charm to a woman trying not to come apart at the seams (pun intended). López and Poza are pitch perfect as the infuriating but somehow adorable siblings, whose overbearing squabbles make up the film’s best moments. It’s Usero who brings the most heart to the film though, as Rosa’s struggling daughter trying to keep afloat with twin babies, no job and a partner the audience never meets. 

Filmed with the stunning backdrop of Spain’s coastal resort of Benicàssim, Rosa’s Wedding is a sweet and uplifting story of a woman putting herself first, while simultaneously still doing what she does best and bringing her family together in the right way. The final minutes really hit just the right note without being too romcom-y. Or anti romcom-y even. 

A masterpiece this is not – but it’s a perfect little film for a pick-me-up, a quiet Sunday movie day, an empowering feminism boost, or even just a pandemic distraction. 

Now screening at Cinema Nova and Palace Cinemas.

3/5

Rosa’s Wedding
In cinemas now
View Trailer