Happy Mother's Day (1963) User Reviews

Beautiful look at Reserved citizens shoved into the spotlight.

[idvegan · 9/10 · 19 February 2003]

I understand that their are a couple versions of this film. I saw a shorter version that was completely under Leacock's control. It was amazing in its portrayal of the changing town. Especially differing opinions between the town mayor, mother, and father. Very personal, while the characters remain detached in their demeanor.

I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of direct cinema.

Ricky Leacock and "being there."

[griestvaudio · 22 November 2022]

Iconic Ricky Leacock' early direct cinema documentary Happy Mother's Day - 1963 (I could have been content with less narration) exploration into "being there." A film style I personally emulated in in my own early work as a filmmaker / cinematographer (Harlem School 1970 (1970) , Dramatization: The Island (1977), Thursday's Child (1984) all 100% without narration or interviews.

The golden age of direct cinema lasted only a short period of time late 1950's mid 1970's and a lot of what was shot then seems crude today related to current digital technology and techniques. However, from a emotional and "feeling" "being there" standpoint I feel a majority of those original trailblazing efforts by Jean Rouche, Robert Drew, Ricky Leacock, D. A Pennebaker, Albert Maysles, Chris Marker, Shirley Clarke, Frederick Wiseman. Alan Raymond, Barbara Kopple, others, had a much more simplistic, emotional and empathetic gravis to them which I especially appreciated and revered.