The Mother Reviews

Why, Why, Why?

I attended a preview screening of this film and it?s the only film preview I've ever been to where more than half the audience walked out.

The ?story,? such as it is, concerns a bereaved grandmother who moves in with her daughter?s family and the complications which arise from her affair with a young feckless builder, who is also her other daughter?s lover! There is a lot of very explicit material, but who this might appeal to I can?t imagine.

The quality of the production is what you?d expect from a BBC 2 ?gritty? drama and the acting can?t be faulted, it?s the script that is the problem. If there was some sort of national scandal where a large percentage of grannies were in the habit of stealing their daughters boyfriends perhaps there would be a reason why this was made ? if there is such a trend, I?m blissfully unaware of it!

During the film there were many unintended laughs and even more groans from the audience - even after they thinned out. I have always had a policy of seeing a film through but this film came closest to making me leave before the end. See it at your own risk!

Some Mothers do have 'em

Most of us would rather not imagine our mother or grandmother having sex with a muscle-bound plumber half her age, then filling sketchbooks with pictures of herself “performing”. Mothers and grannies just aren’t meant to be sexual right? Roger Michell’s film, working from a script by Hanif Kureishi, feeds on and tries to shake up this discomfort about older women’s sexuality, as it bravely navigates a sixty something woman’s affair with a younger man.

May (Anne Reid) finds herself widowed and largely ignored by her busy, self-centred son Bobby and daughter Helen. Against her better judgement, she forms a friendship with Darren (Daniel Craig), the cheery free-spirited builder doing renovations at Bobby’s home, who’s also having sex with Helen. In a superbly played scene, May invites Darren “into the spare room” and re-discovers a long-buried sensuality and sets off a family crisis.

Mitchell scores a major coup with Reid, who turns in a remarkable, passionately-felt performance as an unremarkable woman given a new lease on life. Craig’s performance is equally committed, though Darren’s motivations for entering the affair are less clearly drawn. Equally as compelling are May’s scenes with the insecure and terminally needy Helen (an excellent Cathryn Bradshaw).

“The Mother” is a little too sober and tasteful for its own good, and occasionally lurches into earnestness, and the fine acting work is thrown off-kilter by a ridiculous, hysterical final act. But for its brave and intelligent handling of a taboo subject, it should be applauded.

It would be easy to compare this film to the likes of 'The Graduate' - "Mrs Robinson" sprung to mind when I received it - however it is a surprisingly compelling film, if a little implausible. It drew me in - despite a street fair outside doing it's best to disturb me! The ending is rather innocuous, but doesn't leave you disappointed. Definitely worth a look.

Anne Reid was robbed at the BAFTAs

I think Mike is a little harsh on this film.

I agree that the script is a let down and does not do the players any favours but I was blown away by the performance of Anne Reid and thought she was robbed at the Baftas.

All the characters are pathetic spercimens apart from May and I hardly think that having a fling with her daughter's (very) casual boyfriend should be a hanging offence. This film explores territory that society prefers to ignore but it's out there and good luck to May and her sisters.

Excellent stuff

Excellent, cool film directed by Roger Mitchell. Visually stylish, appears to be a everyday surburban story but never judge a book by it's cover. Superb performance from Anne Reid. An unexpected but impressive delight.

Good acting, but mostly unsympathetic characters.

From the start you can see how Mays life is stale and boring, and on the death of her husband, she goes to stay with her grown up children, who don't really want her.

I thought the childrens characters were pathetic, wingey, self absorbed creatures and quite frankly don't blame her for having afternoon liaisons with the lovely Daniel Craig (her daughters married lover).

I could symapthise with May, with her children always taking from her, finding some release with Daniel Craig's character until he finally turns on her as well.

Bit heavy, sometimes uncomfortable viewing (almost like watching your mum do it!!), doesn't really leave you with a nice lasting impression. But I agree with other reviews - Ann Reid was fantastic, and made it worth watching.

top British drama

Good to see a high quality British film, thoroughly well written, well acted and well made. The subject matter is thought provoking, exploring as it does complex and difficult areas of family relationships and mature sexuality. A recently widowed woman questions the wisdom of having sacrificed herself to the home, and to children who treat her with contempt now they are adults, and who goes on a journey of exploration. Interesting how disconcerting so many reviewers find this - very revealing of attitudes to older women in our youth obsessed society!

[Highly rated reviewer]

Portrait Of An Unpleasant Family

May (Reid) and Toots (Peter Vaughan) are paying an apparently infrequent visit to their son Bobby (Mackintosh) and his family in London. Even as the visit begins, Toots suffers a fatal heart attack, leaving May adrift, unsure, and questioning her life and future. Finding herself attracted to her daughter's boyfriend Darren (Craig), her actions lead to inevitable consequences.

Beautifully filmed, but for all its heralded realism and acclaim, The Mother offers a collection of mostly unpleasant, even repellant characters, and asks the viewer to engage with them. Reid shines as May, and it is her skill as a wonderfully understated actor that salvages the film from a completely depressing mire, but Michell and Kureishi have allowed Craig Mackintosh and Cathryn Bradshaw to create such utterly obnoxious characters, that it becomes increasingly difficult to care what happens to May. Mackintosh and Bradshaw are particularly guilty here, with performances bordering on the two dimensional in their dislikeable selfishness.

Worth seeing for Reid's performance, but little else. A crying shame...

[Highly rated reviewer]

OH DEAR

what a mistake a truely depressing film the children were the only half desent people in it .What a let down plus lot swearing .Go wash your hair !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Selfish sinner or naive victim?

This movie has the merit of going beyond the hypocrisy of family stereotypes. One would not expect a mother to choose her daughter's lover to rediscover sex, and the viewer instinctively perceives her as selfish and immoral. But the ending shows that she is a victim, too - though one who finds the strength to get up and move on in herself. Maybe that's what makes this woman's figure appealing despite her obvious mistakes.