Written and directed by Darren Thornton, co-written by Colin Thornton, a struggling novelist who is forced to take care of three eccentric older women – and his own mother – over the course of one chaotic weekend in Dublin. Starring: James McArdle, Fionnula Flanagan, Dearbhla Molloy, Stella McCusker, Paddy Glynn, Gaetan Garcia, Niamh Cusack, Gearoid Farrelly and Rory O’Neill.
One thing to quickly get out of the way with Four Mothers is a clever choice by Darren Thornton and Colin Thornton, which is that they acknowledge Edvard (James McArdle) grew up in a typically homophobic time, but they don’t make it a central part of his story. It would be misguided in a story playing true to life to pretend like it would have been easy for their generation, so it was a great move to appreciate the struggle, from both the son and mothers’ perspectives, but not bring that prejudice deeply into the story. It’s a key element of queer cinema today to move past that type of plot driven by facing hatred and difficult coming out experiences, instead to simply follow LGBTQIA+ characters in their various worlds and portray their everyday experiences.
Four Mothers is a good example of that, Edvard being gay has a part to play in the story, yes but it’s not the focus, it’s about his career-life balance and his relationship with his mother, as well as himself. Especially as it is so utterly charming, opening up with that quintessentially Irish mother-son dynamic, impossible to please and filled with banter. It’s something that’s consistent all throughout the film, there’s never a moment that isn’t endearing. A lot of that comes from the balance that the Thornton brothers create between their fantastic sense of humour and genuine emotion.
Building that air of sincerity while also holding onto a lightness is the perfect recipe for an emotional but entertaining experience, which is exactly what you get with Four Mothers. One of the things they capture particularly well is that difficulty of being honest with your family members. The struggle to put yourself and your needs first, when you don’t want to upset others. James McArdle does a brilliant job of capturing the anxiety that struggle creates. He’s buzzing with the need to please everyone while slowly imploding as he’s unable to reconcile that with what he wants and needs.
McArdle is a big part of Four Mothers gigantic heart, he gives a wonderful performance which is intensely relatable and kind. You feel it deeply every time he makes another decision to push away his own success, in favour of his mother. Fionnula Flanagan is similarly exceptional, with the added challenge of being unable to speak, with her character having had a stroke, it’s even more impressive the range she brings to Alma. The cast is really something you could talk about for an age to really delve into everything they bring to the table. Dearbhla Molloy, Stella McCusker and Paddy Glynn as the other mothers are a joy to watch. Niamh Cusack provides an unexpected, hilarious sojourn and Gaetan Garcia is adorable yet holds a very grounded, emotionally mature air.
Four Mothers is a genuine delight, it’s as funny as it is moving. It’s stuffed to the gills with superb actors and with the majority of them being in their seventies and eighties, it’s refreshing to see. The writing is terrific, the only tiny thing holding it back is that the ending feels somewhat rushed, but otherwise it’s excellent. It’s shot well to truly reflect the charm and warmth that the story and performances have to offer, keeping it perfectly earnest while having depth. It may sound a little strange but it’s like Paddington, you’ll leave wanting to be a better person, both to others and to yourself.
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