Ma Mère (2004)

When his father dies, a young man is introduced by his attractive, amoral mother to a world of hedonism and depravity.

Director:

Christophe Honoré

Writers:

Georges Bataille (novel), Christophe Honoré

Stars:

Isabelle Huppert, Louis Garrel, Emma de Caunes

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Isabelle Huppert	...	Hélène
Louis Garrel	...	Pierre
Emma de Caunes	...	Hansi
Joana Preiss	...	Réa
Jean-Baptiste Montagut	...	Loulou
Dominique Reymond	...	Marthe
Olivier Rabourdin	...	Robert
Philippe Duclos	...	Le père
Pascal Tokatlian	...	Klaus
Theo Hakola	...	Ian (as Théo Hakola)
Nuno Lopes	...	Le docteur
Patrick Fanik	...	Eric
Susi Egetenmeier	...	Le femme des dunes
Sylvia Love Johnson	...	Le femme de ménage (as Sylvia Johnson)

Storyline

Pierre, a youth, comes from his grandmother's in France to stay with his parents in the Canary Islands. His father talks oddly about his lost youth and leaves abruptly for France. Mom promises to take Pierre to a nightclub, remarking that people will think he's her lover. He prays. His father dies in France, and his mother wants him to empty his father's office; Pierre finds it full of pornography. His mother takes him in tow into a night world without morality, a world of sexual exploitation, exhibitionism, and wildness. What will Pierre make of this, and what, ultimately, will he make of his mother?

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Plot Keywords:

public nudity | masturbation | peeing | backgammon | pornography | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for strong and aberrant sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

TLA Releasing [United States]

Country:

France Portugal Austria Spain

Language:

French English German Spanish

Release Date:

19 May 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

My Mother

Filming Locations:

Canary Islands, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,334, 15 May 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$70,395, 21 August 2005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gemini Films, Madragoa Filmes, Amour Fou Filmproduktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Stereo Stereo (Synchro Film, Austria)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Hélène, the Mother: Your father is dead. I won't lie to you anymore. You must admit that I'm worse than him. I don't deserve your respect. What do you think I've been doing every afternoon all these years? Why were you raised by your grandmother? What did you imagine? Look at me, Pierre! I'm a bitch. A slut. No one respects me. Your father knew. He allowed it. If you really love me, then admit that I'm disgusting. I want you to love me for that. For the shame I inspire in you.

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Connections

Referenced in Caché (2005)

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Soundtracks

Agnus Dei
Written by Samuel Barber
Performed by 'Choir of New College Oxford'

User Reviews

Happy Mother's Day

There are some that put this film in their Top Ten list for 2005, but I greatly hesitate to list it along with films such as 2046 and A History of Violence.

It is a women's film. By that, I do not mean you will see it on Lifetime, but it stars women who are in full control of their sexuality. It celebrates that sexuality like no film I have seen.

Christophe Honoré (Love Songs) adapted an unfinished Georges Bataille novel and directed this film starring Isabelle Huppert (The Piano Teacher, The Bedroom Window, The School of Flesh, I Heart Huckabees) as a mother who has a child to raise after the untimely death of his father.

Pierre (Louis Garrel) has spent his time in a religious boarding school, so mom enlists the aid of her friends to expose his to her debauched lifestyle. Rea (Joana Preiss) and Hansi (Emma de Caunes - The Science of Sleep) do their best to erase all that religious training exposing him to not only regular sex, but some sadism as well.

The Elle Magazine fans who voted Louis Garrel one of their 15 Sexiest Men this year will not be disappointed at all at what they see. The rest, who are more interested in Isabell, Emma, and Joana will also be very pleased.

I am sure we all wish we had a mom like Hélène.