Polish Wedding is a 1998 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Theresa Connelly. It was screened at the Sundance Film Festival on January 16, 1998 and Berlin International Film Festival on February 12. It was released in the U.S. on July 17. It takes place within the Polish American community of Hamtramck, Michigan – the childhood home of director Theresa Connelly – at some time between the 1950s and 1970s. Virtually all characters are Polish Americans, though the actors playing them are mostly of other ethnic origins. Kristen Bell appears in an uncredited role, making this her film debut. Synopsis Jadzia is the matriarch of a family of five children, four sons and a daughter. The household also includes the eldest son's wife – a Syrian-American whom Jadzia calls a Gypsy and who also works with Jadzia – and their child. Jadzia is (somewhat) happily married to Bolek, but is having a long-term relationship with Roman. Her daughter Hala becomes pregnant by a neighborhood cop and her family pressures him to marry her. The interior of the family's home was shot in a local house on Wyandotte Street in Hamtramck. The St. Florian Church was used as a backdrop. Cast Claire Danes as Hala Jon Bradford as Sailor Adam Trese as Russell Schuster Lena Olin as Jadzia Ramsey Krull as Kris Gabriel Byrne as Bolek Seamus McNally as Heckler Daniel Lapaine as Ziggy Rachel and Rebecca Morrin as Ziggy and Sofie's Baby Mili Avital as Sofie Steven Petrarca as Witek Brian Hoyt as Kaz Christina Romana Lypeckyj as Kasia Peter Carey as Piotrus Rade Šerbedžija as Roman Kristen Bell as teenage girl (uncredited) Reception On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 42% based on reviews from 36 critics. Home media The region 1 DVD was released March 16, 1999. References External links "The Big Lebowski Goes To The Polish Wedding: Polish Americans – Hollywood Style", review by John J. Bukowczyk 1998 films 1998 comedy-drama films American comedy-drama films American independent films 1990s English-language films Teenage pregnancy in film Films about weddings in the United States Films produced by Tom Rosenberg Films set in Michigan Films shot in Michigan Fox Searchlight Pictures films Lakeshore Entertainment films Polish-American culture in Metro Detroit 1998 independent films 1990s American films