Mary and Martha

Play trailer

Mary and Martha

TV-PG

2013

1h 45m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

After losing their sons to malaria, two women (Hilary Swank, Brenda Blethyn) dedicate their lives to helping others affected by the disease.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Hilary Swank and Brenda Blethyn deliver moving performances in this well-intentioned drama, but rote storytelling and a shallow depiction of Africa diminishes its impact.

Read Critics Reviews

Tom Meltzer

Guardian

Its story of loss, love, guilt, awakening and redemption -- while artfully shot, tightly written and well-acted -- ultimately served as a vehicle for a handful of familiar and uncomfortable facts about a disease.

Oct 8, 2020

Full Review

Jessi Cape

Austin Chronicle

The remainder of the film is captivating, perhaps in part because it taps into humans' innate voyeurism, perhaps because Curtis props open our eyelids to the cause despite the film's missteps.

Oct 8, 2020

Full Review

Neal Justin

Minneapolis Star Tribune

It has an important statement to make, but any semblance of a story keeps getting interrupted by the filmmakers' need to remind you that malaria in Africa is really, really bad.

Oct 8, 2020

Full Review

Daily Express (UK) Staff

Daily Express (UK)

Written by Richard Curtis and directed by Phillip Noyce, it's sentimental at times but still unmissable viewing.

Oct 11, 2020

Full Review

Jasper Rees

The Arts Desk

Mary and Martha is a work of fiction, and it's notably light on comic relief. But the real game-changer is that Curtis here tugged on the heart strings by putting his First World characters in the line of fire.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 8, 2020

Full Review

Matt Roush

TV Guide

Mary is headstrong and abrasive, Martha matronly and warm, and the actresses' chemistry makes up for an earnest predictability in the storytelling.

Oct 8, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Julie R

Fantastic film! Beautiful cinematography and outstanding acting. I disagree with criticism saying it's preachy. There's a big difference between shining a light on an important issue and preaching to the audience. I actually learned a lot from this movie and was touched by the story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great great great great movie....

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I would say the generational issue can connect to lots of people. For me, it encourages the ideology of empathy, and also encourage people to be aware of things that look little. I would say it is worth to watch but I would not watch again shortly.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Alexandra H

Sad story but engaging--I enjoyed it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/17

Full Review

Audience Member

Wonderful movie!! A tear jerker....fantastic synopsis.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Had no idea that malaria still claims so many lives. Shameful that this isn't in the headlines. Good story - slow - but absorbing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Phillip Noyce

Director

Hilary Swank

Mary

Brenda Blethyn

Martha

James Woods

Mary's Father

Frank Grillo

Peter

Ian Redford

Charles

Cinema Verite

61%

60%

Cinema Verite

Watchlist

Grey Gardens

88%

79%

Grey Gardens

Watchlist

Recount

78%

81%

Recount

Watchlist

Wit

83%

91%

Wit

Watchlist

The Sunset Limited

68%

80%

The Sunset Limited

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After losing their sons to malaria, two women (Hilary Swank, Brenda Blethyn) dedicate their lives to helping others affected by the disease.

Director: Phillip Noyce
Screenwriter: Richard Curtis
Production Co: Working Title Television, NBC Universal Television, HBO Films
Rating: TV-PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2016
Runtime: 1h 45m

Most Popular at Home Now