It can take a lifetime to feel alive.|Jan. 01, 2003|United Kingdom|112 Min.|R
Genre: Drama;Romance
Description: “The Mother,” released in 2003, tells the story of May, a woman from Northern England whose life has been shaped by societal and marital expectations. After her husband passes away during a visit to their adult children in London, May seizes the opportunity to rediscover herself and follow her passion for drawing. Although reserved, she resists conforming to the roles of a typical grandmother or widow, determined not to fade into the background.
May returns to London with her son Bobby, much to the dismay of her daughter-in-law Helen. During her stay, she becomes involved in a romantic relationship with Darren, a younger, kind-hearted man who is renovating Bobby and Helen’s home. Darren, who is also involved with May’s daughter Paula, shares May’s interest in art, and the two develop an unexpected connection. Despite Darren’s marital struggles and responsibilities as a father to an autistic son, he and May grow closer.
As May moves from Bobby’s home to Paula’s, she learns about Paula’s ongoing therapy, which stems from feelings of emotional neglect during childhood. At a writing group organized by Paula, May openly reflects on her past as a mother struggling with depression, offering an explanation for her perceived lack of affection. Paula introduces May to Bruce, a man closer to her age, while pressing her to find out Darren’s intentions regarding his marriage. May agrees but avoids Paula’s probing questions.
The situation takes a dramatic turn when Paula discovers a sketchbook filled with May’s explicit drawings, suggesting an intimate relationship with Darren. Outraged, Paula confronts Bobby, who dismisses it as fantasy. However, Paula is convinced of the affair, leading to tension and conflict within the family.”
Cast director: Roger Michell
Cast actor: Anne Reid, Daniel Craig, Peter Vaughan, Steven Mackintosh, Cathryn Bradshaw, Anna Wilson-Jones, Danira Gović, Izabella Telezynska, Oliver Ford Davies, Jonah Coombes
Original name: The Mother