Mother Mother (2024 film)
| Mother Mother | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | K'naan Warsame |
| Written by | K'naan Warsame |
| Produced by | Alex Kurtzman Jenny Lumet Andrea Calderwood |
| Starring | Maan Youssouf Ahmed Elmi Rashid Elmi Hassan Najib Ubah Egal |
| Cinematography | César Charlone |
| Edited by | Sabine Hoffman Geraud Brisson |
| Music by | Isobel Waller-Bridge |
Production companies | Secret Hideout Potboiler Productions 25 Stories |
Release date |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
| Countries | Canada Kenya Somalia United Kingdom United States |
| Languages | Somali English |
Mother Mother is a drama film, directed by K'naan Warsame and released in 2024.[1] His directorial debut film after being previously best known as a hip hop musician, the film stars Maan Youssouf Ahmed as Qalifo, a widowed mother in Somalia who must go to extraordinary lengths to restore the peace after her son Asad (Elmi Rashid Elmi) is drawn into a violent confrontation with American tourist Liban (Hassan Najib).[2]
Production and distribution
[edit]The film was partially based on a real incident from Warsame's own life in Somalia prior to his family escaping to Canada as refugees.[3] The lead character is named in memory of his aunt, who died of cancer just as production began on the film.[4]
A coproduction of companies from Kenya, Somalia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, the film premiered in the Discovery program at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.[5]
Critical response
[edit]Beandra July of IndieWire graded the film a B+, writing that "by the end of 'Mother Mother' it dawned on me that this is precisely the kind of movie I come to TIFF for, a real voice that disabuses me of my assumptions, and my cynicism from the pain of watching so many movies that erase and belittle the Qalifas of the world. A movie that sends me back out into the light of day wondering."[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Courtney Shea, "'This movie is about the overlooked': K’naan Warsame on his first feature film, Mother Mother". Toronto Life, September 6, 2024.
- ^ a b Beandrea July, "‘Mother Mother’ Review: A Slow Burn Somali Drama Defies Expectations with a Complex Study of Familial Ties". IndieWire, September 8, 2024.
- ^ Christopher Vourlias, "‘Wavin’ Flag’ Singer K’naan Warsame Dips Into His Own Life Story for Film Director Debut, ‘Mother Mother’". Variety, September 6, 2024.
- ^ Alex Nino Gheciu, "K'naan got tired of the spotlight. So he stepped behind the camera for his debut film". Yahoo! News, September 6, 2024.
- ^ Zac Ntim, "TIFF 2024: Laura Carreira’s ‘On Falling’ & ‘Bonjour Tristesse’ Starring Chloë Sevigny Among Titles Set For Discovery Sidebar". Deadline Hollywood, July 24, 2024.
External links
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