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:

Ma Mère

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: Loving your mother isn't everything... nor being intelligent. Nor being handsome. Nor being frighteningly serious. Where will that take you if you ignore the joy of others?

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Connections

Referenced in Caché (2005)

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Soundtracks

Hymne à l'Amour
Music by Marguerite Monnot
Lyrics by Édith Piaf
Performed by Cyndi Lauper

User Reviews

daring, but not cheap

As I watched the movie, I felt (probably like many others) somehow shocked by the powerful and explicit images. Yet it can't be said that this is merely done to make a controversial film. The viewer gets a slowly developing picture of the relationship between mother and son, or more correctly of the adaptation of mother's lifestyle by her son. Finally everybody is invited to morally judge the relations, actions and sayings of the main characters. But as most viewers are likely to enjoy the "forbidden" relationships or explicit scenes, who are we to give criticism? This film puts a whole new dimension in the concept of what is normal, allowed or understood as morally acceptable. It's sometimes almost revolting, and yet when you've seen the story-lines that led to these scenes, you may find the actions acceptable (or maybe I've a twisted mind). I would like to call the attention to the beautifully chosen soundtrack and the abrupt ending, which leaves the viewer a little bit disturbed.