justmessin05 Review of The Mother

The Mother (2003)

A harrowing depiction of mortality versus morality

[6/10 · 6 December 2005]

As I watched The Mother, I could not help but think how much my own mother would enjoy this film, perhaps as much as I myself was not enjoying it. The film is unarguably artfully shot, with wonderful use of reflections and distorted images. Yet the story failed to draw me in; I found it impossible to relate with this elderly woman who is scared of becoming old, being a young male. Nevertheless, as a director, Michell still managed to address those of his audience with similar situations as me. I was still able to feel May's quiet anguish over her realization of her frail mortality, which is accentuated through her husband's death, her grownup children, and her affair with Darren. May's tryst with Darren does break social taboos, and as an audience member, I honestly cannot say that I was comfortable with the image of an old woman having graphic sex with a much younger man. But I also could not blame May for her decision, as if to condemn her for being old, and thus unable to take pleasure in activities that are supposedly only for younger people. My heart particularly went out to May in that scene when she allows Bruce to practically rape her; the scene was hard to watch and had a dirty feel to it, and when I realized that it represented her reluctant acceptance of her age, I felt a compassion for her. Nonetheless, I still feel that Michell never truly conveys his message. May's horrendously selfish daughter tells her how easy a life she had, and from what I could gather from the film, I had to reluctantly agree. Therefore May's dilemma lacks the emotional punch it deserves, but Michell's film still serves as a poignant tribute to the realization of mortality.