Mothering Sunday movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Mothering Sunday

This lusty drama premieres on March 25, 2022 in select theaters in New York City and Los Angeles to start.

NEW YORK
AMC Lincoln Square – 1998 Broadway, New York, 10023

Regal Union Square – 850 Broadway, New York, 10003

Cinema 123 by Angelika – 1001 3rd Ave, New York, 10065

LOS ANGELES
The Landmark – 10850 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, 90064

AMC The Grove – 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, 90036

RATING: R

LENGTH: 104 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

The movie is based on Graham Swift’s novella of the same name, published in 2016 to glowing reviews. The story begins on a warm spring day in 1924. Housemaid Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young) finds herself alone on Mother’s Day in England. Her employers, Mr. and Mrs. Niven (Colin Firth and Olivia Colman), are out and she has the rare chance to spend quality time with her secret lover. Paul (Josh O’Connor) is the young man from the manor house nearby, Jane’s secret lover, despite the fact that he’s engaged to be married to another woman, the daughter of his parents’ friends. But events that neither can foresee will change the course of Jane’s life forever.

The film is directed by Eva Husson who said, “Mothering Sunday seemed to have, somehow, found its way to me, and there it was, this wonderful screenplay, speaking to me, playing a frequency that opened me up like only the most honest works of art do. I have never felt so at home with another writer’s script, and suddenly, that script, written by Alice Birch, seemed to whisper in my ear. It was a culmination of everything that I am obsessed with in life: writing, sex, and pure cinema. What I find truly exciting is that the movie already exists and lives on the page (I finished the script in tears).”

THINGS I LIKED:

The incredibly talented cast includes Academy Award winners Olivia Coleman and Colin Firth.
Odessa Young is the main star and focus of the movie as Jane Fairchild. She’s excellent, especially as she changes her demeanor and boldness as she ages. And speaking of boldness, we see every inch of Odessa Young in this movie. She plays a young teenager, as well as a 46-year old woman later in life.
I adore Josh O’Connor in everything he does. We see every inch of him in this movie as well.
I’ve heard some people complain that all of the characters are bland with no emotional energy. While that may appear to be true, I interpreted it to be a reflection of the sorrow of the time after World War, beautifully illustrating the numbness people felt.
There are so many mesmerizing close-up camera angles and beautiful vignettes that are picture-perfect.
I loved how the film displays how our memory dances between moments in time, lingering here and there, often in surprising ways through an image or word.
As an author of 31 books, I’m always fascinated to watch movies about other writers, especially ones that indicate their inspiration and writing process. Throughout the movie, we see words pop up on the screen that the author is fascinated by and wants to use in her writing someday.
The costume designer, Sandy Powell, is a three-time Oscar winner and is one of the standouts in the movie. I loved her designs, especially the women’s hats.
The time period is just after WWI, as the sad village in England struggles to cope with the loss of their young men who died in the war.
The musical score adds to the overall melancholy feeling of sadness in the movie.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

There is a LOT of nudity and sex in the film which always makes me extremely uncomfortable. In this film, it serves a purpose to illustrate vulnerability. Even still, it’s just too much for me.
Some viewers might get confused by the bouncing around in the timeline.
The broken-up dialogue might frustrate audiences.
Ultimately, this is the kind of movie that critics call a masterpiece, but general audiences will say is boring.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

This movie is DEFINITELY not appropriate for children.
You see a fully naked woman and man, front and rear many times.
Pre-marital relations in full view
Alcohol and cigarettes
Some profanity, including multiple F-bombs
Discussion of several deaths

THEMES:

Freedom
Memory
The class divide
Forbidden love
Meaning in life
Loss of love, grief
Survivor’s guilt
Secrets

FUNNY LINES:

None. This is a serious drama.

INTERESTING LINES:

“How very lucky to have been comprehensively relieved at birth and have absolutely nothing to lose, and you never shall, really. That is a gift, Jane. And you must learn to use it. You’re very fortunate.” – Mrs. Clarrie Niven (Olivia Colman) speaking to Jane, who is an orphan
“Maybe all of the men in my life have to die in order for me to write my great book.” – Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young)
“I wish we had taught each other everything.” – Donald (Sope Dirisu)

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A-