Passes the Bechdel test
Rachel Getting Married
2008. Directed by Jonathan Demme, written by Jenny Lumet.
The Bechdel test
Bechdel score
3 / 3
Passes
-
Yes
1. At least two women
27 women characters. 10 of them speak. -
Yes
2. Who talk to each other
In 14 scenes out of 79. -
Yes
3. About something besides a man
In those scenes, our script parser found no man named. See the scene.
Second opinion
Agree bechdeltest.com readers give it 3 out of 3.
The film
Kym Buchman has been in drug rehab for nine months, during which time she has been clean. She is released temporarily from the facility to attend her sister Rachel Buchman's wedding. During her release, Kym is staying at the family home, where the wedding is taking place. As such, it is like Grand Central Station for the duration of Kym's stay, which may not be the most conducive situation for her in constantly being exposed to the watching eyes of those who know and don't yet know her, but know of her situation. The reunion with her family members starts off well enough, but issues around Kym's release from rehab quickly surface. Kym and Rachel's father, Paul Buchman, wants to make sure that Kym is all right at all times, which to Kym feels instead like he doesn't trust her. Rachel slowly begins to resent Kym's situation taking over what is supposed to be the happiest day of her life, some of which is directed by Kym, some of which isn't. One person present but largely not included in the last minute wedding planning work is Kym and Rachel's mother, Abby, from who Paul is divorced. The two have since married other people. Outwardly, Abby has been nurturing of Kym throughout her life. However, what is one of the key moments in Kym's drug induced life, and in their collective family's lives, may profoundly affect the wedding. Beyond how Kym's presence affects the wedding, the goings-on of the family during Kym's short stay may either bring them closer together or tear them apart.
- Released
- 31 Oct 2008
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- Rated
- R
- IMDb
- 6.6 / 10
- Metascore
- 85 / 100
- Awards
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. 32 wins & 65 nominations total
- Elsewhere
- View on IMDb
Starring, by lines spoken
- Women
- Men
- Not in the cast list
- Bigger name, more lines
- Kym 246 lines, woman
- Rachel 153 lines, woman
- Paul 113 lines, man
- Abby 68 lines, woman
- Kieran 47 lines, man
- Emma 41 lines, woman
- Sidney 36 lines, man
- Carol 25 lines, woman
- Stylist 13 lines
- Rosa 8 lines, woman
Full cast, 103 people
- Anne Hathaway as Kym Buchman
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Rachel Buchman
- Bill Irwin as Paul Buchman
- Debra Winger as Abby Buchman
- Tunde Adebimpe as Sidney Williams
- Mather Zickel as Kieran
- Anna Deavere Smith as Carol
- Anisa George as Emma
- Robyn Hitchcock as Wedding Guest
- 'Sister' Carol East as Wedding Guest
- Beau Sia as Wedding Czar
- Carol Jean Lewis as Sidney's Mom
- Fab 5 Freddy as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Andre B. Blake as Inspired Stylist
- Roger Corman as Wedding Guest
- Tamyra Gray as Singing Friend
- Victoria Haynes as Bridesmaid
- Kyrah Julian as Sidney's Sister
- Roslyn Ruff as Rosa
- Sebastian Stan as Walter
- Annaleigh Ashford as Quick Stop Cashier
- Zafer Tawil as Violin Friend
- Innbo Shim as Wedding Planner
- Eliza Simpson as Wedding P.A.
- Quincy Tyler Bernstine as 12-Step Receptionist
- Mel Jones as 12-Step Speaker
- Darrell Larson as 12-Step Group Leader
- Michelle Federer as 12-Step Reader
- Matt Stadelmann as 12-Step First-Timer
- Molly Hickok as 12-Step Veteran
- Big Jim Wheeler as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Josh Broder as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Stephen Richardson as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Bruce Bennetts as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Paul Sparks as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Caroline Goodman-Thomases as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Daniel Wolff as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Jill Dalton as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Joe Alessi as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Jordan Cael as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Tiffany Little Canfield as 12-Step Meeting Member
- Barry Eastmond Jr. as Wedding Drummer
- Brooklyn Demme as Wedding Guitarist
- John Anthony as Sidney's Dad
- Herreast Harrison as Sidney's Grandmother
- Gonzales Joseph as Cousin Joe
- Donald Harrison Jr. as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Jim Roche as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Jimmy Joe Roche as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Robert W. Castle as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Paul Lazar as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Amir El Saffar as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Dorian Missick as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Tareq Abboushi as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Tavish Graham as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Dimitrios Mikelis as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Gaida Hinnawi as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Alix Derrick as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Matt Rabinowitz as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Stephanie McBride as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Richard Maxwell as Rehearsal Dinner Guest
- Jerome Le Page as Andrew
- DeQuina Moore as Rachel's Stylist
- Joe Toutebon as Police Officer
- Edie Hofstatter as 1st Paramedic
- Jaime Garcia as Other Paramedic
- Julio 'Goya' Pagan as Tow-Truck Operator
- Van Hughes as Wedding Valet
- Robert Merrill as Wedding Guest
- Brian Nelson as Wedding Guest
- David Neumann as Wedding Guest
- Edisa Weeks as Wedding Guest
- Heather Christian as Wedding Guest
- Jennie Liu as Wedding Guest
- Johnny Farraj as Wedding Guest
- Joshua Elrod as Wedding Guest
- Maria Dizzia as Wedding Guest
- Marie Runyon as Wedding Guest
- Ray Ultarte as Wedding Guest
- Tymberly Canale as Wedding Guest
- Anita Sarko as Wedding Guest
- Joey Perillo as Wedding Guest
- Christy Pusz as Wedding Guest
- Jos Demme as Wedding Guest
- Daphne Rubin-Vega as Wedding Guest
- Marin Ireland as Angela Paylin
- Joyce George as Wedding Photographer
- Stephany Boa as Guest Electric Guitarist
- Derrick Williams as Dancemaster
- Elizabeth Hayes as Susanna Galeano
- Cyro Baptista as Wedding Party Guest
- Jose Mauricio De Faria as Samba Troupe Member
- Michelle Clay as Samba Troupe Member
- Lisette Santiago De Faria as Samba Troupe Member
- Silvana Marquina as Samba Troupe Member
- Marcus Santos as Samba Troupe Member
- Atlanta Foresyth as Samba Troupe Member
- Eldio 'Cabello' Rolim as Samba Troupe Member
- Tonia-Cara Forsters as Lady in Red
- Kate Rossi as Lady in Red
- Susan Helen van der Griend as Lady in Red
- Juliet Teakle as Lady in Red
- Olive Hui as Caterer (uncredited)
Who talks, scene by scene
Lines of dialogue in every 2 scenes, start to finish. Women above the line, men below. 5% of lines come from characters we couldn't match to the cast list and aren't shown.
Women
Men
Scene 1 Scene 79
Hover, tap or tab to a bar to see those scenes: where they happen and who's talking.
Show the numbers
| Scenes | Women's lines | Men's lines |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | 20 | 9 |
| 3 to 4 | 13 | 6 |
| 5 to 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 to 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 to 10 | 55 | 0 |
| 11 to 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 to 14 | 11 | 9 |
| 15 to 16 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 to 18 | 2 | 2 |
| 19 to 20 | 2 | 2 |
| 21 to 22 | 14 | 10 |
| 23 to 24 | 42 | 0 |
| 25 to 26 | 58 | 15 |
| 27 to 28 | 64 | 30 |
| 29 to 30 | 6 | 6 |
| 31 to 32 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 to 34 | 42 | 10 |
| 35 to 36 | 20 | 11 |
| 37 to 38 | 9 | 27 |
| 39 to 40 | 10 | 0 |
| 41 to 42 | 20 | 0 |
| 43 to 44 | 22 | 13 |
| 45 to 46 | 18 | 17 |
| 47 to 48 | 5 | 5 |
| 49 to 50 | 22 | 0 |
| 51 to 52 | 0 | 0 |
| 53 to 54 | 0 | 2 |
| 55 to 56 | 0 | 0 |
| 57 to 58 | 0 | 0 |
| 59 to 60 | 10 | 12 |
| 61 to 62 | 7 | 0 |
| 63 to 64 | 3 | 0 |
| 65 to 66 | 0 | 2 |
| 67 to 68 | 13 | 4 |
| 69 to 70 | 3 | 0 |
| 71 to 72 | 44 | 13 |
| 73 to 74 | 0 | 0 |
| 75 to 76 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 to 78 | 8 | 5 |
| 79 to 79 | 6 | 0 |
The evidence
- Straight from the script
- Counted from the script and the credits
Tap an exhibit to open it.
Exhibit A: the passing scenes
The scene our parser counted as passing, word for word.
ROSA: That them? KYM: Yes. Finally.
KYM: Let's go, let's go. Where is everybody? KYM: Hey Carol. How are ya? CAROL: Hello Kym. KYM: So where's Rachel? Carol, where's Rachel?
KYM: Yah. Can we go? CAROL: Is there anyone you want to say goodbye to? KYM: God no.
KYM: ...I was looking forward to a little privacy for once. CAROL: The only extra person staying at the house is Emma, who's actually been staying in your old room. But she can move, I guess. KYM: Rachel and Emma. Oh, great. How relaxing. KYM: The only two people on the planet less capable of delegating than Hannibal! On the eve of a wedding! Nachtmare.
KYM: Can we stop at the 7/11 please? I feel nauseous. I need something to drink. CAROL: I brought you a Diet Coke. KYM: I prefer Pepsi from the fountain.
Exhibit B: every 100 lines
Out of every 100 lines with a known speaker, 73 are women's.
556 lines from women, 210 from men.
- Women
- Men
Exhibit C: who's in it
27 women and 28 men in the cast. 10 women and 7 men from it get lines.
Characters
With lines
- Women
- Men
Exhibit D: who gets heard
The first woman speaks at line 3 of 803.
The longest stretch with no woman speaking runs 14 lines.
Every line of dialogue, first to last
- First line by a woman
- Longest stretch with no woman speaking
Words spoken
Women speak 76% of the words (6,281), men 24% (1,954). Women have 73% of the lines, so their lines run longer than men's.
Exhibit E: the test the other way
Two named men talk to each other about something besides a woman. It passes the reverse test.
Conversations between two named characters
Two women
57
Two men
13
Exhibit F: behind the camera
3 of the 12 people in these jobs are women.
Across the whole crew, 41% of the people whose gender is listed are women.
- Directed by
- Jonathan Demme (man)
- Written by
- Jenny Lumet (woman)
- Produced by
- Marc Platt (man), Jonathan Demme (man), Neda Armian (woman)
- Shot by
- Declan Quinn (man)
- Edited by
- Tim Squyres (man)
- Music by
- Donald Harrison Jr. (man), Zafer Tawil (gender not listed)
- Production design by
- Ford Wheeler (man)
- Costumes by
- Susan Lyall (woman)
- Cast by
- Bernard Telsey (man)
The crew, department by department
-
Production
7 women, 4 men, 3 not listed
-
Sound
2 women, 10 men, 2 not listed
-
Camera
0 women, 3 men, 7 not listed
-
Art
2 women, 2 men, 4 not listed
-
Other crew
2 women, 1 men, 1 not listed
-
Directing
0 women, 1 men, 3 not listed
-
Costume & Make-Up
1 women, 0 men, 2 not listed
-
Editing
0 women, 1 men
- Women
- Men
- Gender not listed on TMDB
Exhibit G: how old the stars were
Women: 44 on average. Men: 45 on average.
The top-billed cast, at the film's release.
Women
Anne Hathaway 25, Rosemarie DeWitt 36, 'Sister' Carol East 49, Debra Winger 53, Anna Deavere Smith 58
Men
Tunde Adebimpe 33, Mather Zickel 34, Robyn Hitchcock 55, Bill Irwin 58
Exhibit H: the money
It made 1.4 times what it cost.
- Budget
- $12 million
- Box office
- $16.9 million
From TMDB, not adjusted for inflation.
About this analysis
Our parser read the script: 79 scenes and 803 lines of dialogue. The bechdeltest.com rating comes from that site’s readers. How the test works
