Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother really is that girl. One of the buzziest films of the fest, this film met and exceeded my high expectations. A gripping tale of faith, loss, justice, and love, we are in great hands with director Bassam Tariq.
Mahershala Ali is utterly magnetic as Latif, the loving father of three and a man of devout faith, who also happens to be a contract killer. Latif has his own internal code of moral justice, ridding the world of those wishing to do his community harm. However, after his wife tragically passes, he is left to care for his three children, and decides to back out of the game. His baby daughter is struggling without the breast milk of her mother, so Latif embarks on a desperate quest to find breast milk for her. Meanwhile, his employer, Mike (Laith Nakli) ensnares Latif in a feud between him and fanatic cowboy preacher Haun Yoon (John Cho). The two paths intersect, and what ensues is an action thriller filled with suspense, intrigue and profound heart.
The cinematic language is deeply evocative. The film drew me in with its initially warm colour palette, all rich browns, oranges and greens in contrast with its later crisp blues and whites. Textures stood out as well, the knit of a sweater, the intricate weaving of a rug, covered in blood. The world is beautifully depicted, I was in awe at each frame.
As someone unfamiliar with Islamic hadiths, the hadith that inspired the title and themes of this film was new to me. I have my own complicated relationship with religion, so I wasn't sure how it would affect me. I can say now with certainty that it moved me deeply. The film is incredibly effective at reflecting on the power of this hadith and what it means in terms of how we show up for the ones we love. I was moved by how evocatively the film captures this hadith’s reflection on the divine power of mothers and how it meaningfully captures the void left by the loss of one.
I think that this can apply to not just our mothers (recognizing everyone’s relationships with their own mother are different), but those in our lives who hold a space of value and impact, be that blood or chosen family. These people in our lives who hold us with care, who are everything to us, that to even imagine their loss is unfathomable. There is divine power in these people, and this film asks us to reflect on what they mean to us, and what we give of ourselves to them.
The film truly inspired reflection on so many questions, like, what do you do when your faith (religious or otherwise) is challenged by the cruelty of life? What changes in us when we experience immense loss? Can we find our way back to hope, to each other? What would you be willing to do to protect those you love? Do the ends justify the means? The answers to these questions are complex and the film reckons with them with a deep sense of care and intentionality.
Every actor in this film is firing on all cylinders. Mahershala, always magnetic, embodies Latif's internal conflict with such rich, evocative depth and heartbreak ever present in his eyes. Adia and Jahleel Kamara give deeply embodied and nuanced performances as his children caught in the crossfire. Giancarlo Esposito is excellent as the imam who tries to draw Latif away from the world of violence. John Cho plays the unhinged fanatic cowboy preacher with a fantastic devious glint in his eye. Abubakr Ali is hilarious and emotionally nuanced as Mike’s wayward son. There are too many wonderful performances to list. All of the performances were so deeply moving in how expertly they embodied the phenomenal script.
The fight choreography is stellar. These scenes were so incredibly intricate and gripping, composed with such unmatched skill. I was immediately drawn in, unable to look away. Mahershala embodies these moments so deftly, and I was in awe of how he seamlessly moved through space.
This partnership between Mahershala Ali and Bassam Tariq is absolutely brilliant. Seeing what they are able to do together here is incredibly exciting. They’ve created an absolute masterpiece. I hope to continue to see more collaborations between the two of them.
By the time the credits rolled and the beautiful score swelled, I was overcome with emotion. I was floored by what I had just witnessed, at what it represents, and all of the questions it awakened in me. I wept at its profound beauty.
Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is everything it hoped to be and more. It’s a rare moment where buzz not only meets expectations but exceeds them. Oscar conversations are sure to be at the forefront with the film. I cannot wait to watch it again and again and again. You don’t want to miss it. Calling it now, this is the movie of the year.
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