The Lovely "Mother of George"

Heyo,

I would like to talk about "Mother of George" (2013).

"Mother of George" stars Danai Gurira as Adenike, a Nigerian newlywed living in New York City hoping to conceive her first child.  It is in many ways a contemplative and ephemeral-feeling movie, moving between vibrant and lush close-ups that most leave the viewer with a vivid sense of the light and rich color of the different spaces the characters inhabit.

This is the direct result of the cinematographical choices made in "Mother of George," which make for some of the most remarkable aspects of this film.  It's almost as if the camera is being held by a child not yet tall enough to reach characters' faces, so they are often not fully shown.  This choice makes "Mother of George" at once deeply physically intimate--we are so close to the characters, it's as if we are sitting next to them at their kitchen table or on their knee--while also making the audience focus intently on what the characters are saying, since we can't see their faces to read their lips or facial expressions.  It's almost as if the child Adenike and her husband Ayodele (played with a wonderful balance of austerity and sincerity by Isaach De Bankolé) so long for is already here in the movie, even though we are unable to see them; instead, we are that child, watching the story of our own creation.

The other remarkable aspect of "Mother of George" is, of course, the peak it provides into the lived experience of Nigerian immigrants in the United States in the midst of a profound turning point in their lives.  American audiences might not otherwise be able to see this story, or may not even think to seek it out.

Honestly, it's maybe because of the seeming rarity of this opportunity that the narrative of "Mother of George" is particularly riveting and heart-rending; we are being invited into some of the most personal moments imaginable in these characters' lives.  Being given this rare invitation, as the cinematography reminds us, it is imperative that we watch and listen closely.  Adenike's loneliness and vulnerability, as well as the pressure exerted on her from all sides, are palpable as she navigates her struggle to conceive.  These forces lead her to make choices that might be difficult to imagine or understand, but here, we have a precious opportunity to try.

I gave "Mother of George" a 4.5.

{Heart}