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The Mother

Play trailer Poster for The Mother R 2003 1h 51m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
79% Tomatometer 90 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
May (Anne Reid) is a middle-aged grandmother who lives in Northern England with her husband, Toots (Peter Vaughan). When Toots dies while the couple is visiting their children in London, May begins to feel a sense of isolation and falls into a deep depression. Needing something new and vital to cling to, May takes refuge in the arms of Darren (Daniel Craig), a burly handyman who is not only half her age and married, but also sleeping with her daughter, Paula (Cathryn Bradshaw).
The Mother

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Reid gives a fearless, realistic performance in depicting an older woman's sexual blossoming.

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Critics Reviews

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Neil Norman London Evening Standard 01/11/2018
Quite apart from her unclad courage in the sex scenes, 62-year-old Anne Reid conveys the dilemmas of her age and her hesitant path to liberation with extraordinary and moving subtlety. Go to Full Review Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution 08/26/2004
B
A troubling film about the need to be wanted. Go to Full Review Peter Rainer New York Magazine/Vulture 08/07/2004
There is in The Mother a rich understanding of where old age takes you. Along with the myth that seniors don't have sex drives, the film dispels a larger one: that the years bring wisdom. Go to Full Review Kristin Battestella InSession Film 07/25/2023
The destructive performances make this an intriguing look at the unfortunate way we treat older relatives and how maturing sexuality and empowerment can disturb us. Go to Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed 04/29/2009
All of it is ingeniously drawn to a close with an unexpected ending that is so powerful in its simplicity. Go to Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
1/5
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Audience Reviews

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Alberto C @TitoCrespo Feb 2 This is disgusting, tasteless, a nonsense. Nausea... See more Uynga U @RT32500567 07/24/2024 very great action and emotional See more Bahad j @RT27093708 07/23/2024 In my opinion, I felt that the movie was very good, behind all this, the filmmaker was able to come up with the right festive details to congratulate the members of the behind-the-scenes team. See more Munkhjargal A @RT28084692 07/23/2024 This movie is an interesting adventure. It turned out to be a sad but interesting film starring the singer. I was able to give a good emotional feeling while watching it, thank you to the team of the film Thank you See more Edward B @RT61751304 07/02/2023 Very realistic acting and relatable family life and conversation. Slightly taboo subject for some.. no doubt (not me though however). Fantastic acting by Anne Reid produces a very strong lead performance in this film. The fact that younger men can be attracted to older women is becoming increasingly popular due to the modern women's complicated attitude.. however a calm submissive feminine women is really what all men desire See more matti k @RT42177412 05/14/2023 Unbelievable rubbish, even on Netflix standards! It must have been trolls to rank this nonsense with four stars here in RT. Lousy acting, from under acting to over acting to no acting within seconds. Script is useless and plot has man size holes shot all over it. Only good part are the skillful snowmobile drivers at the end. See more Read all reviews
The Mother

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Roger Michell

Director

Anne Reid

May

Daniel Craig

Darren

Steven Mackintosh

Bobby

Cathryn Bradshaw

Paula

Oliver Ford Davies

Bruce

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The Mother

The Mother (2003) The Mother (2003) The Mother (2003) Daniel Craig as Darren View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis May (Anne Reid) is a middle-aged grandmother who lives in Northern England with her husband, Toots (Peter Vaughan). When Toots dies while the couple is visiting their children in London, May begins to feel a sense of isolation and falls into a deep depression. Needing something new and vital to cling to, May takes refuge in the arms of Darren (Daniel Craig), a burly handyman who is not only half her age and married, but also sleeping with her daughter, Paula (Cathryn Bradshaw).
Director
Roger Michell
Producer
Kevin Loader
Screenwriter
Hanif Kureishi
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
BBC, Renaissance Films
Rating
R (Language|Graphic Images of Sexuality|Brief Drug Use)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 16, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2019
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Surround