My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)

Director:

Joel Zwick

Writer (WGA):

Nia Vardalos (written by)

Release Date:

2 August 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Love is here to stay... so is her family.

Plot:

A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | College | Teacher | Love | Travel Agency

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Nia Vardalos	...	Toula Portokalos
Michael Constantine	...	Gus Portokalos
Christina Eleusiniotis	...	Toula Portokalos - Age 6
Kaylee Vieira	...	Schoolgirl
John Kalangis	...	Greek Teacher
Lainie Kazan	...	Maria Portokalos
Marita Zouravlioff	...	Toula Portokalos - Age 12
Sarah Osman	...	Athena Portokalos - Age 15
Petra Wildgoose	...	Car Pool Friend
Melissa Todd	...	Car Pool Friend
Bess Meisler	...	Yiayia
Andrea Martin	...	Aunt Voula
Louis Mandylor	...	Nick Portokalos
Gerry Mendicino	...	Uncle Taki
Stavroula Logothettis	...	Athena

Also Known As:

Le mariage grec (Canada: French title) (TV title)
Mariage à la grecque (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for sensuality and language.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English | Greek

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:G (British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (w) | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #38179) | Ireland:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Gold Circle Films

Trivia:

The school where Ian Miller teaches in the film is actually the Kerr Hall building at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Toula's mother is telling her daughter about her life in Greece and why she left, it is obvious that the audio has been re-dubbed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gus Portokalos: [to Toula] You better get married soon. You're starting to look... old!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Office: The Fire (#2.4)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Stalia Stalia

Such a nice and entertaining movie

This is a such a nice and entertaining movie. As in David & Layla directed by Jalal Jonroy, My big fat Greek Wedding too celebrates the love and cultural differences. Love, humanism, comedy, romance all are in that great film. My Big Fat Greek Weddeing brings people from different background closer and shows how important to accept the 'other' as other in order to be just happy! Being a migrant poses different problems and the individuals some times have to defy their original traditions and cultures to be able to love or be happy. In particular Greeks are very keen on and proud of their traditions and cultures (rightfully). I like the films which provide some insight and understanding of different cultures, or of individuals inner world. In this term My Big Fat Greeek Wedding does the job. That is why it is a very captivating film along with being funny enough to make you laugh even after you left the movie theater. I also recommend Mansoon Wedding, Bend It Like Beckham and David & Layla for the movie lovers.

devrim kilic editor of www.kurdishcinema.org