CONFETTI
Year: 2006
USA: Fox Searchlight
UK: Twentieth Century Fox
Cast: Martin Freeman, Jessica Stevenson, Stephen Mangan, Meredith MacNeill, Robert Webb, Olivia Colman, Vincent Franklin, Jason Watkins, Felicity Montagu, Jimmy Carr, Alison Steadman, Ron Cook, Marc Wooton, Sarah Hadland, Mark Heap
Director: Debbie Isitt
Country: UK
USA & UK: 100 mins
USA Rated: Rated R for nudity and language
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language and nudity
USA Release Date: 15 September 2006
UK Release Date: 5 May 2006 (Limited Release - London, West End)
Synopsis
The search is on for the Most Original Wedding of the Year!
CONFETTI chronicles the lives of three young couples as they fight whitened tooth and manicured nail to win the title of Confetti Magazine's 'Most Original Wedding of the Year'. At stake is a £500 000 dream home, their picture on the cover of the next issue and, last but not least, the most important day of their lives.
We follow Matt (Martin Freeman) and Samantha (Jessica Stevenson), Josef and Isabelle (Stephen Mangan and Meredith MacNeill) and Michael and Joanna (Robert Webb and Olivia Colman) from the excitement of being chosen as finalists through the eventful weeks of preparation to the Grand Finale. Matt and Samantha are old-fashioned romantics who opt for Hollywood musicals; Josef and Isabelle are hyper-charged tennis pros for whom failure is not an option; Michael and Joanna are children of nature for whom clothing is not an option.
Professional wedding planners Heron & Hough (Vincent Franklin and Jason Watkins) are on hand to turn the couples' dreams into reality, providing expert advice, yards of organza and the occasional shoulder to cry on. Themes are debated, colour schemes co-ordinated and dance routines rehearsed. Top hats, tennis balls and fig leaves are at the ready.
Which lucky couple will scoop the prize? Will Confetti's editor Vivien (Felicity Montagu) and publisher Antoni (Jimmy Carr) regret their choice of finalists and rig the result? Will the brides and grooms survive the pressures of the competition to join together in wedded bliss? The Big Day is approaching...
Director Debbie Isitt's CONFETTI brings together a stellar ensemble of UK comedy talent including Martin Freeman (THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, OVE ACTUALLY, THE OFFICE), Jessica Stevenson (SPACED, THE ROYLE FAMILY), Stephen Mangan (GREEN WING), Robert Webb (PEEP SHOW), Felicity Montagu (I'M ALAN PARTRIDGE), award-winning stand-up Jimmy Carr and Alison Steadman (LIFE IS SWEET, ABIGAIL'S PARTY).
Inspired by the drama and expense of her sister's real-life wedding preparations, Debbie Isitt spent two years investigating the occasionally hazardous, frequently hilarious business of getting married. Armed with her research and the concept for a documentary-style reality show, Isitt gathered a brave and brilliant cast, embarking on an extensive improvisational workshop that would enable the actors to develop their characters. Once in character, the actors did not come out again over the entire production period. Instead, observed and guided by the director, they worked without a script to create a uniquely spontaneous and often touching comedy about weddings.
CONFETTI was filmed in the UK over six weeks and was co-financed by BBC Films, Wasted Talent and Screen West Midlands.