
Mother Apart (A)
- Director: Laurie Townshend
- Writer: Alison Duke, Laurie Townshend
- Producer: Chanda Chevannes, Ngardy Conteh George, Alison Duke, Justine Pimlott
CGiii Comment
Half a story told and a feminist agenda fulfilled. Justifying her maternal abandonment under a feminist umbrella is as far-fetched and Ms Chin's grasp on the obvious reality that she dare not face, head-on. Her mother was a terrible mother and no amount of feminist ideology can change that immutable fact. Accept it and move on...but, no, there is a film to be made!
A film crammed full of irrelevance and reminiscence, due to the fact that the mother, apart from not particularly wanting to take part, has many secrets that will stay hers and only hers. No quibble.
So...the result flies dangerously close to being a self-promoting, public service announcement on how a single, feminist, lesbian can [also] be a great mother. Time and motherhood have mellowed Ms Chin...perhaps, she got the answers she was looking for off-camera and off-camera is where they will remain...because, any other person would be angry to face such a brick wall, she remains all-smiling, all-forgiving...and, all feminist!
Mass appeal...this does not have.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
After discovering her mother's letters, Staceyann Chin examines Hazel's past and how her absence shaped Chin's poetry, politics, and parenting. Chin navigates revelations about Hazel while raising her own daughter, Zuri, in an joyful way.