This Mother’s Day, spend some quality time with your Momma by enjoying a selection of movies that will have both of you laughing, crying, and loving even more.
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It goes without saying that on May 8, the stars will be the lights of our lives, our fiercest supporter, and the ultimate source of unconditional love. On Mother’s Day, it will be a time dedicated to highlighting all the special, selfless women out there and all the hard work they do. It’s a holiday to celebrate and remember the relationships formed, the sacrifices made, and the lessons learned. And if you are looking to spend some quality time with your Mom this Mother’s Day, you can’t go wrong with a good movie…or three. This is why we’ve rounded up a few movies that you may want to add to your Mother’s Day watch party. These films range in theme, genre, and style, because motherhood isn’t the same experience for everyone. It can be great, complicated, tragic, and everything in between. But at the end of the day, there is still a lesson to be learned and a whole lot of love to give and receive.
TURNING RED
When it comes to animation and mothers, Pixar knows what they are doing. Brave comes into mind as a great Pixar film about the relationship between a daughter and her mom. But their latest release, Turning Red, really nails it on the head of the kind of relationship many daughters have with their moms. The story of Meilin and her quest to control her inner Red Panda resonated with so many, especially Asians, because it accurately depicted how overbearing it may feel for a daughter when trying to follow tradition, her mom, all while discovering her own self. That struggle between following your family and living your own life is something many can relate to. This film makes for a great watch on that delicate balance between living up to parental expectations and living as your own person.
CORALINE
Speaking of animation, another great mother-centric animated film to check is Coraline. Based on the book by Neil Gaiman, the acclaimed film follows a young girl named Coraline and her parents she doesn’t get along with. One day, she discovers a secret passage to another world where she meets duplicates of her parents with buttons for eyes. At first, these alternate parents are everything Coraline wished her real parents to be and then some. But as time goes on, she realizes that there is a dark secret behind them. A more mature watch than most animated movies, Coraline is here to remind you that despite the differences you may have with your own mother, there is a genuine love there that no one can replace.
ANG TANGING INA
A classic of modern day Filipino comedies, Ang Tanging Ina follows the story of Ina Montecillo, a single mother who is forced to take care of her 12 kids after her three husbands leave her. The movie is both comical for the crazy situations that Ina gets herself into, as well as heartwarming because we see how far Ina goes to give a better life to her kids. It’s a lighthearted yet touching comedy that delves into the lengths moms will go for their kids.
MARRIAGE STORY
For something more off the beaten track, you may want to add Marriage Story to the Mother’s Day marathon. The main plot centers on a couple going through an often times messy divorce. But the film also works well as an exploration on how a mother navigates a divorce and tries to make things work for their son. Not all mothers stay with their spouses so the film may tug on the heart for those who come from broken families.
LADY BIRD
Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women wonderfully depicted the relationship between the March sisters and their mother. But we’re going to give this spot to her previous work, Lady Bird. This coming of age film follows Lady Bird McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) as she explores what she wants to do in life, which includes moving to the big city for college. But there’s also the fact that her mother isn’t exactly the most supportive of her ambitious dreams. The film’s coming of age storyline already makes this a worthwhile watch, but it also shines with how it explores the relationship between Lady Bird and her mom. For those who have ever faced conflict with their moms as they entered adulthood, you’ll find something to enjoy here.
GOODNIGHT MOMMY
If you want to spice things up this Mother’s Day, you may want to add a horror movie to the list. Our suggestion is Austrian horror film Goodnight Mommy. The film follows twin boys and their mother who recently came home after cosmetic surgery. Her face is covered in bandages and the boys soon realize that the person behind the bandages may not be their mom after all. The tense and brooding atmosphere all lead to the film’s central theme of the struggle of identity and that trust and connection between child and mother.
MOTHER
It is often said that mothers will do anything for their children. But how far will that conviction go? That questions is explored in Bong Joon Ho’s (director of Parasite) 2009 film Mother. The Korean film centers on a mother and her son Yoon Do-joon. One day, her son finds himself framed for a murder he did not do and is sent to jail for it. Determined to find the truth, his mom goes on a journey that tests just how far a mother’s love will to finding the truth. This crime-mystery-thriller has a plot that makes you want to know what happens next as well as explore if a mother’s love is good enough to justify certain actions.
MAMMA MIA!
For something more fun and lighthearted, Mamma Mia! is that experience you’re looking for. This movie musical based on the songs of ABBA follows a young woman named Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) who is getting married on a Greek island. But before she does, she first wants to discover who her real dad is among three potential men. Watch this film for the music and good times but stay for the dynamic between Sophie and her mom Donna (Meryl Streep) as they navigate their complicated past and her daughter’s eventual letting go into marriage.
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