Mother (The)

Genre: social drama

With: Anne Reid (May), Peter Vaughan (Toots), Steven Mackintosh (Bobby), Cathryn Bradshaw (Paula), Anna Wilson-Jones (Helen, Bobby’s wife), Oliver Ford Davies (Bruce) and Daniel Craig (Darren)

Director: Roger Michell

Release: 2004

Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Rating: 14A

MBiS score: 8.2/10

A Mother But Still A Human Being

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Story-line: as soon as retirees Toots and May arrive in London to visit their children, a health issue throws the whole family into a fix.     

Pluses: a very contemporary subject, natural acting by Anne Reid and cast (check out Daniel Craig before James Bond!), Hanif Kureishi’s subtle screenplay, disciplined direction, Jeremy Sams’ jazzy score.

Minuses: none.

Comments: a genuinely surprising and thought-provoking movie about old age, generational conflicts and how damaging it is to pigeonhole people, especially those who are close to us. I can only admire a film that tackles tough issues in such a brave and realistic way.

MBiS

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