My Mother Frank (2000)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Mark Lamprell

Writer:

Mark Lamprell (writer)

Release Date:

17 August 2000 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

When a meddlesome mother enrolls in university with her son, old and new worlds collide with awesome consequences.

Plot Keywords:

Alzheimer's Disease | Independent Film

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Sinéad Cusack	...	Frances (Frank) Kennedy (as Sinead Cusack)
Sam Neill	...	Professor Mortlock
Matthew Newton	...	David Kennedy
Rose Byrne	...	Jenny
Sacha Horler	...	Margaret
Celia Ireland	...	Peggy
Lynette Curran	...	Jean
Melissa Jaffer	...	Sister Sebastian
Joan Lord	...	Sister Bernadette
Nicholas Bishop	...	Mick
Deborah Kennedy	...	Receptionist
Hayley McElhinney	...	Francine
Annie Byron	...	Eunice
Pamela Hawken	...	Marcia
Brendan Higgins	...	Doctor

Runtime:

95 min | Canada:90 min (Ontario)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:M | New Zealand:M | Norway:15

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)

Quotes:

David Kennedy: It's Jenny. I want her and she wants Mick. I'm Georgie Burke and Mick's Dad. Now go.
Frances Kennedy: You are not George Burke. You are not your father. You are your father's son. I can't find words to express how proud I am of you. You're great. If she can't see that, she's not worthy of you. And if she can, she'll come around.

Life-Affirming

My Mother Frank begins as a warm, amiable comedy about a middle-aged Catholic woman (Frank, short for Francis, played by Sinead Cusack) who shakes herself out of the doldrums by enrolling as a student in her son's university. Most of her friends and family are horrified, not least her son (Matthew Newton), who is busy falling in love with his best mate's girlfriend (Rose Byrne). Meanwhile Frank has raised the ire of her disapproving English tutor (Sam Neill).

Matthew Newton is utterly disarming as David; relaxed and natural in the role, even when the character's uptight. He generates valuable goodwill, steering the audience through some of the film's more awkward, broad comedy moments. Not long after the half-way point, first-time writer-director Mark Lamprell expertly steers his film into darker emotional territory and gives Cusack a real chance to shine.

The supporting cast is full of familiar and welcome faces (Lynette Curran, Sacha Horler, Nicholas Bishop) and all the principals (including a more animated than usual Sam Neill) are excellent. While it meanders a little towards the end, My Mother Frank delivers more than it promises and is a genuine Australian crowd-pleaser.