The Mother (2003)

A grandmother has a passionate affair with a man half her age, who is also sleeping with her daughter.

Director:

Roger Michell

Writer:

Hanif Kureishi

Stars:

Anne Reid, Peter Vaughan, Anna Wilson-Jones

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 11 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Anne Reid	...	May
Peter Vaughan	...	Toots
Anna Wilson-Jones	...	Helen
Daniel Craig	...	Darren
Danira Govich	...	Au Pair
Harry Michell	...	Harry
Rosie Michell	...	Rosie
Izabella Telezynska	...	Polish Cleaner
Steven Mackintosh	...	Bobby
Cathryn Bradshaw	...	Paula
Carlo Kureishi	...	Jack
Sachin Kureishi	...	Jack
Simon Mason	...	Man in Tate Gallery
Oliver Ford Davies	...	Bruce
Jonah Coombes	...	Estate Agent

Storyline

Toots and May's marriage is one of Toots being dependent on his wife. Shortly after Toots and May arrive in London to visit with their grown children Bobby and Paula and their respective children, Toots falls ill and dies. Toots' death brings to the surface the underlying strain that has always existed between May and both of her two children, and the unhappy lives they have all led. Now specifically with Paula, May is disapproving of her relationship with a construction worker named Darren. Not only does May think his occupation makes him beneath Paula, he's also a married man. Darren is in an unsatisfying marriage but doesn't want to leave it if only because of his son. Even after May gets to know and like Darren, she still encourages Paula to break up with him. The issue is is that May herself has fallen in love with Darren, the two who begin a sexual relationship. What will ultimately happen between May and Darren also depends on Darren, who is floundering in his own life and ...

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Plot Keywords:

death | poetry class | death of husband | cocaine | heart attack | 

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Taglines:

It can take a lifetime to feel alive.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content including graphic images of sexuality, language and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics [us]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 2003 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Mãe

Filming Locations:

Goldhawk Road Underground Station, Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£1,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$79,560 (USA) (28 May 2004)

Gross:

$1,062,253 (USA) (5 November 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Free Range Films, Renaissance Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bobby's children are played by Roger Michell's children.

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Goofs

When Darren and Toots are discussing cricket, the reflections of crew equipment and the camera dolly mount are visible in the glass of the sunroom windows.

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Quotes

Darren: [of an older woman] We'll be like that one day. No one wanting us.

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Connections

Features The Big Knights (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Bodyshock
Composed by Adam Laschinger
© Mother Productions Ltd

User Reviews

Bold, honest, and intriguing........

Although at one point I thought this was going to turn into The Graduate, I have to say that The Mother does an excellent job of explaining the sexual desires of an older woman.

I'm so glad this is a British film because Hollywood never would have done it, and even if they had, they would have ruined it by not taking the time to develop the characters.

The story is revealed slowly and realistically. The acting is superb, the characters are believably flawed, and the dialogue is sensitive. I tried many times to predict what was going to happen, and I was always wrong, so I was very intrigued by the story.

I highly recommend this movie. And I must confess, I'll forever look at my mom in a different light!