Visible crew/equipment: When Donna is telling Tanya about Sophie's dad arriving, stage lights can be seen in Donna's glass.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Plot summary
Directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski
Sophie Sheridan is preparing for her wedding to Sky, a young man she met while traveling the world. Sophie, who grew up on the island with her single mother Donna, is hesitant about taking the next step without knowing her father. After discovering Donna's old diary, Sophie reads about her mother's summer affairs 20 years ago and suspects that one of the three men mentioned in the diary might be her dad.
Determined to find out, Sophie secretly invites all three men to her wedding, pretending to be Donna. The first to arrive is Sam Carmichael, an architect who once had a romance with Donna. The second guest is Harry Bright, a British banker, and the third is Bill Austin, a Swedish sailor. Sophie confides in her best friends Ali and Lisa about her plan, and they pledge to help her.
As the three potential fathers arrive separately, Sophie introduces herself to each of them without revealing her true identity. Her interactions with the fathers-to-be seem to deepen her confusion about her own feelings. Meanwhile, Donna, unaware of the situation, is taken aback when her former bandmates, Tanya and Rosie, arrive for the wedding.
During the lead-up to the wedding, Sophie spends time with each of the men individually. She ultimately decides not to reveal the truth, as she wishes to have her father walk her down the aisle as a surprise for her mother. Her relationship with Sky becomes strained as Sophie becomes increasingly wrapped up in the secret.
As the wedding day approaches, emotions run high. Sophie finally confesses to her bridesmaids her true intentions and reveals that she invited the potential fathers. The bridesmaids, a mix of panic and amusement, support Sophie and decide to keep the secret from Donna. However, just as the wedding is about to start, Sam, Harry, and Bill discover the truth about Sophie's plan and the confusion it has caused.
Feeling deceived, the fathers confront Donna, who is shocked and hurt by the revelation. Sophie and Donna have a heated argument, with Donna expressing her disappointment in Sophie's actions. Sophie, devastated, believes her wedding is ruined, while Donna is devastated by her daughter's apparent lack of trust.
Tanya and Rosie rally together and convince Donna to attend her daughter's wedding, despite everything. In a heartwarming sequence, the two remaining members of Donna and The Dynamos get Donna ready for the ceremony, reminding her of their bond. The wedding proceeds, and Sophie walks down the aisle with Sky by her side, accepting that her father will not be the one to give her away.
Suddenly, all three potential fathers appear, each having decided to embrace his possible role as Sophie's dad. They agree to co-walk Sophie down the aisle, symbolizing their shared love for her and the strong relationship they developed with Donna during that magical summer.
In the end, the wedding takes place, and Sophie and Sky exchange vows. Surrounded by family and friends, Donna reunites with her former lovers for a lively and joyful performance of "Dancing Queen." The movie concludes with a celebration on the beach, full of singing, dancing, and an overwhelming sense of love and acceptance.
Trivia: While neither the stage show nor the film reveals who Sophie's real father is, there is an official answer. According to Catherine Johnson and Phyllida Lloyd, Sophie's real father is Bill. Bill's character was Australian in the original stage production, but in the film he became a Swede instead, and he's played by Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård. This means the film's Sophie has her roots in Sweden - just like "Mamma Mia!"
Join the mailing list
Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.
Answer: Sophie finds Donna's diary from 1979, being the year Sophie was conceived meaning she was born in 1980 (as the diary entries are from July/August). So the movie is set in 2000.