Written and directed by Savanah Leaf, an intimate coming of age story of a pregnant single mother who embraces her Bay Area community as she determines the fate of her family. Starring: Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, Keta Price, Doechii, Sharon Duncan-Brewster and Bokeem Woodbine.
There have been a lot of young, single mother stories over the years and many of them are full of cheap, manipulative emotion, Earth Mama is not one of them. What Savanah Leaf creates instead is an incredibly touching, thoughtful portrayal of motherhood. It feels as though this poignant and relevant topic is finally being tackled by a filmmaker with a genuine connection to the story. You’d think it would be something quite common but purely going by the fact that this film is so striking and affecting, it’s a clear reminder that it’s actually pretty rare.
Leaf’s story is so strongly focused on Gia (Tia Nomore), again that sounds like something that would be a given, but it isn’t. Everything is viewed through her eyes, it’s not about how other people perceive her or simply the struggle to survive, it goes deeper than that. It’s an exploration of her internal conflict, making impossible decisions as a mother and attempting to hold herself together while constantly finding new obstacles.
Gia’s also fighting a system that was designed for her to fail, and Earth Mama deals with that extremely well, it never approaches scandal or overtly politicised territory. The issues are inherently political but Leaf approaches them in an everyday way, focusing on how it impacts daily life rather than a stereotypical rage against the machine style. It brings to mind A.V. Rockwell’s A Thousand and One, tackling the foster care system with an intimate perspective.
One of the other ways that Earth Mama sets itself apart is by adding in an artistic vein to its drama. Its dream-like, metaphorical sequences let you dive further into Gia’s state of mind. They’re shot extremely well and flawlessly edited into the film, never feeling out of place. Especially as the cinematography has this superb pastel tinged aesthetic. Added to Leaf’s grounded and pensive direction, it builds this exceptionally compelling atmosphere.
If you went into Earth Mama not knowing that it was Tia Nomore’s acting debut, you’d likely struggle to believe it once you’d seen it. Nomore holds your attention perfectly, she makes Gia sympathetic and strong, with a great personality and filled with love for her children. There’s a relaxed confidence to how Nomore appears onscreen, her portrayal just flows so organically that it’s impressive.
She’s also supported by an exceptional supporting cast, starting with Erika Alexander, whose performance is filled with generosity and a remarkable amount of patience. Sharon Duncan-Brewster brings an intense vulnerability, she’s almost constantly in this battle between joy and sadness. Keta Price as Mel is an unexpected pillar of strength for Gia, she’s compassionate and caring. While Doechii’s Trina is an interesting source of conflict, she’s got a big personality and uncompromising views.
Earth Mama is a very raw, honest yet poetic exploration of young motherhood. An impressive and thoughtful debut feature from Savanah Leaf, with a phenomenal debut performance from Tia Nomore. Every scene flows so beautifully until it reaches this absolutely heart-breaking crescendo. It slowly digs its way under your skin until the final scenes go for the heart.
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