An author’s life becomes complicated after his friends leave their mothers with him as they go to Pride in the wonderful Irish comedy-drama Four Mothers, the opening film of the 51st Seattle International Film Festival.
Edward is at a turning point in his career. An author, his gay young adult coming-of-age novel is a hit in his native Ireland, is about to be published in the United States. His publishers are trying to set up a tour and publicity, but his insecurities about taking such a big step and selling himself to a different reader base, are hobbling him. Especially as he is the primary caretaker of his elderly mother with physical issues due to a stroke two years previous. It is further complicated when his friends fly off to Pride for a few days and leave their mothers with him, without any warning. Thus, four elderly women, all of whom have never met, one overwhelmed man, a caretaker, and lots of personality come together in a charming whirlwind of emotion and humor in Darren Thornton’s funny and charming comedy, Four Mothers.
Four Mothers, based on the Italian film Mid-August Lunch, is a sweet slice of life, with the added push of the elevated situation. While the set-up could lead to large moments, wild personality classes, and sitcom scenarios and the like, Thornton, directing and co-writing with brother Colin, keeps it grounded. This is a film about the connections we choose and are forced, the lives and needs of generations, and the love of it all.
All is through a solid humor angle. There are hilarious moments that slide into a nice small-level farce as he tries to balance all the demands and needs of the women, especially upon figuring out just how to make it work. There is great fun in the variety of excursions, escapes, and escapades, but without descending to unrealistic largess or “only in the movies.” The Thorntons avoid clichés and base characters as well. The women (and men) are fully realized, with the quirks and eccentricities (for example, one mother loves to attend wakes of people she doesn’t know) serving to build depth of history and selves. With all coming from the same background, area, and living similar lives, it’s a strength in the writing to have all be fresh and balanced, with a flurry of conversations, quips, needs, and debate among the women and the younger men caring for them. But it’s all natural and heartfelt.
Four Mothers is a film filled with love. It’s refreshing to have a film populated with gay male characters and their mothers, and it not being about struggles of coming out, of culture being bigoted, or the mothers not accepting. These mothers and their sons love one another, wholescale. Yes, in sharing their stories, at least one had a slight hang-up on coming out, but that was long in the past. The absence of the rote “win over the bigot” storyline is a breath of fresh air. With the men all being older, as the mothers are all elderly, discussing older characters and their lives is a change of pace. The conundrum for the women is how to care for themselves as their bodies begin to fail, so as not to put too much on their children’s lives. It’s a tough navigation for all, with Four Mothers exploring different wants and needs, levels of care, and the inevitable further decline.
The performances are uniformly great. James McArdle, playing Edward, is a warm, anchoring presence. He has a lot on his shoulders, working out what to do to further his career, but also care for his mother, life starting to bear down. It’s a tough job trying to do the best for the person you love most in the world, but also trying to take care of yourself, especially when reaching middle age and a little emotionally insecure. His mother Alma is character actress Fionnula Flanagan, of The Others and the newest Hunger Games, without voice from the stroke (thematically connecting to Edward’s own issues voicing himself. Flanagan has a masterful use of face and eyes. She speaks through a computer program, perfectly utilized in the film with a matter-of-fact tone and timing. The sudden interjection of a single word earns solid laughs and dramatic heft. The other titular mothers, as played by Dearbhla Molloy, Stella McCusker, and Paddy Glynn, all work together in a chaos of chemistry. There is a beautiful dynamic between them all, you’ll thank them for being a friend (I had to have a Golden Girls reference somewhere in here. I’ll see myself out… in one more paragraph). The ensemble cast, also including Gaetan Garcia as a young healthcare worker, melds with ease.
Four Mothers is the opening film of the Seattle International Film Festival 2025, following last year’s Thelma. Interesting to have two films in a row that look at the lives of the elderly and how they and the younger generations who love and care for them work out the changes in their worlds. (“Past Lives” opened ‘24; it’s not every time). It’s a strongly written, heartfelt comedy of generational needs and expected connections. A strong start to the festival.
Four Mothers opens the Seattle International Film Festival, running May 15th – 25th, with select streaming screenings May 26th – June 1st. See www.siff.net/festival for more information.
