The Story: Hopefully, this will be the last word about grief for awhile. And a eulogy is always a good place for last words.
And one of the best eulogies I've seen in movies is the one from Four Weddings and a Funeral. The movie has been going along so chummily, that when this occurs, it's like a punch in the gut. And, for me, at least, it produced quite a few tears. It's so simple and such an expression of sorrow, that one is tempted to just leave it alone. It can't be embroidered.
No other words are necessary, really. So, Ill just leave it alone.
The Set-Up: Gareth (Simon Callow) has been the life of every reception at the weddings among the small cluster of his friends...that is, until he died at the last one. Now, at his funeral, his lover Matthew (John Hannah) delivers the eulogy.
PASTOR: Good morning, and a warm welcome
to you all on this cold day. PASTOR: Our service will begin in a few minutes.
But first we have asked... PASTOR: ...Matthew, Gareth's closest friend, PASTOR: ...to say a few words. MATTHEW: Gareth used to prefer funerals
to weddings.
He said it was easier to get enthusiastic
about a ceremony one had an outside
chance of eventually being involved in. MATTHEW: In order to prepare this speech, MATTHEW: I rang a few people
to get a general picture of how Gareth
was regarded by those who met him. MATTHEW: 'Fat' seems to have been a word
people most connected with him.
MATTHEW:'Terribly rude' also rang a lot of bells.
So 'very fat' and 'very rude' seems
to have been the stranger's viewpoint. MATTHEW: On the other hand, some of you have rung me
and let me know that you loved him. MATTHEW: ...which I know he would have been
thrilled to hear. MATTHEW: You remember his fabulous hospitality,
his strange experimental cooking.
The recipe for... MATTHEW: ...duck á la banana
fortunately goes with him to his grave. MATTHEW: Most of all, you tell me of
his enormous capacity for joy. MATTHEW: And, when joyful,
for highly... MATTHEW: ...vocal drunkenness. MATTHEW: I hope joyful is how
you will remember him.
Not stuck in a box in a church.
Pick your favourite of his waistcoats
and remember him that way. MATTHEW: The most splendid, MATTHEW: - weak-hearted, as it turned out -
and jolly bugger MATTHEW: most of us ever met. MATTHEW: As for me, you may ask
how I will remember him.
What I thought of him.
Unfortunately, there I run out of words. MATTHEW: Forgive me
if I turn from my own feelings
to the words of another
splendid bugger, WH Auden. MATTHEW: This is actually what I want to say: MATTHEW: Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking
with a juicy bone, MATTHEW: Silence the pianos
and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin,
let the mourners come. MATTHEW: Let the aeroplanes circle
moaning overhead MATTHEW: Scribbling on the sky the message MATTHEW: He ls Dead. Put crepe bows round the white necks
of the public doves, MATTHEW: Let traffic policemen
wear MATTHEW: black cotton gloves. MATTHEW: He was my North, my South,
my East and West.
My working week and my Sunday rest, MATTHEW: My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: MATTHEW: The stars are not wanted now: MATTHEW: Put out every one;
Pack up the moon and MATTHEW: dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean
and sweep up the wood; MATTHEW: For nothing now
can ever come to any good.
Four Weddings and a Funeral is available on DVD and Blu-Ray from M-G-M Home Video.
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