FOUR MOTHERS

Ireland, 2024, 89 minutes, Colour.

James McArdle, Fionnula Flanigan, Gaetan Garcia, Marie Ruane, Dearbhla Molloy, Rory O'Neill, Dane O'Sullivan, Gearoid Farrelly.

Directed by Darren Thornton.

An Irish film, very Irish film. But this is a story about a middle-aged novelist, on the brink of success, interviews, podcast, prospective American tour, getting over the complications of his early years, growing up, relationships. But, as with Irish and other stories, there is his mother.

In fact, this film is based on a brief 2008 Italian film, Mid-August Lunch, Pranzo di Ferragosto, this time middle-aged Italian son and his care for his imposing mamma.

However, this film multiplies sons and mothers fourfold. At the centre is James McArdle’s Edward, creative and diffident, worrying in his mind and imagination, at the beck and call of his mother. Not so much call, since she had a stroke and cannot speal – but very much at her beck, insistent, frequent, demanding, playing for sympathy.

Which would have made a film in itself.  However, Edward has three close friends, each with very different personalities, who decide to go on a holiday together. And each of them has a mother. And there is the extra thing to mention is that they are all gay. So, all off to the continent for enjoyable vacation, except would with his mother. And they constantly contact Edward with their liberation and exhilaration, while he is at home with the four mothers.

And, all four mothers go to the house and Edward has to sleep in his car, they will demand different kinds of breakfasts, and different kinds of outings, to the doctor, shopping, to a karaoke club, while mother has a strong impulse for attending funerals. Edward has to adapt, sometimes graciously, sometimes with frustration. And, in their ways, the mothers respond to the attention that he gives them.

While many men in the audience will identify with looking after mothers, everyone, sons and daughters, will be observing the excellently drawn characters that the actresses play, led by veteran Fionnula Flanagan Edward’s mother.

The film seems to have touched a nerve with the public, winning popular awards at festivals and having rather longer than expected commercial seasons.

1. Title and expectations? For sons?
2. An Irish story, based on an Italian story, the ritual framework, the son helping the mothers, the complexities of the Irish story and interactions?
3. The Dublin settings, homes streets and suburbs, aged care homes, the outings, the bus, the funeral, hairdressing, the karaoke bar, the visit to the medium and the Galway scenery…? The musical score?
4. The focus on Edward, his age, gay, stories of his past experience, going to Sweden and his mother phoning, his relationship with Ralph, his friends, writing the novel, the acclaim, young adult audience, the gay theme, the publicists, the plans for the American tour? His own inner feelings, hostility towards his father and his father’s memory, his mother’s stroke, unable to speak, using machine, demanding? His visit to his friend, the therapist? The feelings of inadequacy, and the attacks?
5. His friends, the decision to go on a holiday, the telephone calls, his friend and his mother at home, it is gay, what a holiday, taking over answer? The pressure on Edward as well is for the interviews, his notes, awkward interviews, the exasperation of the agent?
6. The arrival of the mothers, the three sons depositing than others, into the house, Alma and her reactions, hostile first, then demanding on Edward to take care of the women?
7. The personality of the mothers, the very Catholic mother, church, sides of the Cross? The town mother? The unmarried mother and her interests, more pleasant personality?
8. The arrival, the rooms, the demands, Edward having to sleep in the car, the breadth the situation, his range to the store, preparing breakfast? Reliance on Raff and the bus? The tension between him and Raff the past relationship? Raff’s new relationship?
9. The outings, in the bus, Alma and her dominance, to the funeral, the mother and her fussing, serving, washing up, introducing the glory woman to Edward? Alma and getting her hair done? The return home, the women watching television, the opening up, the discussions? And Edward in the car once again, his nightmare about his voice changing in the interview?
10. The demands of the women, seeing the medium television, wanting to go to Galway, his exasperation, Raff on the bus, the welcome from woman, the motivations, wanting to know about their husbands? The pigeons and the shooting? The cards, the messages, her descriptions of each of the men and their messages to their wives, reassuring? The messages father to Edward and his reaction?
11. The men on holidays, the phone messages, the images?
12. The Zoom setup, Edward and his wanting to give up the tour? Reactions?
13. Jean, getting the taxi in the night, it pursuing her, the karaoke bar, her singing, bringing her back, the quiet conversation? The drink together?
14. The men returning home, the women going home after the experience, the changes? Edward and the men? The party, Raff and his partner and the celebration?
15. Edward, the challenge for his mother, giving him the space?
16. His going to America, enjoying the travels, the interviews?
17. The blend of serious themes, Irish treatment, Irish comedy?