Backbencher

The film Muriel's wedding follows the misadventures of a young woman seeking independence from her family...and marital bliss. Her father, a failed politician, is both over controlling and verbally abusive to his wife and children. When Muriel’s mother makes the mistake of giving her a blank check, she seizes the opportunity to rob her parents blind and start a new life for herself.
Joined by a friend from her home town, Muriel makes her way to Sydney and gets a job at a video store, parties the nights away, and tries on every wedding gown she sees. Soon she becomes obsessed with the new persona she has created for herself and becomes overly selfish, marrying a man she hardly knows, and turning her back on her family and only true friend. However, a family crisis calls Muriel home and she comes to realize just how badly she has messed up her life.
Realizing the need to make amends, Muriel confronts her father and seeks out the friend she shunned. The two then return to Sydney with the determination to do things right this time.

Seeing the way that Muriel's father and friends treated her, I really wanted to feel sympathy for her. However, Muriel has no dignity for herself and treats her mother like trash, following the example of her father and siblings. Eventually, Muriel becomes so selfish that she turns her back on a true friend that needs her.
I felt that the only true victim in this film was Muriel's mother. Both her husband and ungrateful children treat her like a throw-away. Her husband blatantly cheats on her and Muriel abuses her misplaced trust. The other children boss her around like a slave and one of the boys hits her. No one should be treated that way. However, I was glad that Muriel eventually realized this and stood up to her father.