Mother of George

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The constant off center composition and frequently uneccessary close ups makes the movie annoying to watch it was also filled with near mediocre dialogue..and as a nigerian I believe some of the characters where not portrayed as they where to be although danai gave a lovely performance she wasn't exactly a Yoruba woman,her character was portrayed more northern than western (in behavior and mannerism) of the Nigerian culture. Good colors and a good choice of story,the dialogue was just not great. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Mother of George is a visually arresting film that captures the Nigerian culture in a western world. Director Andrew Dosunmu opens the film with a traditional Nigerian wedding, a profuse exhibit of joyous music, customary blessings and vestments bursting with dynamic colors. It is the union of Adenike (Danai Gurira) and Ayodele (Isaach De Bankolé), where within the wedding rituals and conversations you would appreciate the importance of respecting and preserving traditions in Ayodele's family. Family and guests anoint the bride with dollar notes, and Ayodele's mother Ma Ayo (Bukky Ajayi) gives her blessings, citing "Adenike, you and your husband, nothing will ruin you two. You will give birth to a son. You will give birth to a daughter too. You will give birth to twins as well." Soon Adenike is sitting the bedroom, while waiting for her husband to take her on their first night, she receives fertility beads from her mother-in-law. Along with it is a carrier that Ma Ayo used to carry her son on her back, asserting her demands again as she suggests that her daughter-in-law would carry her grandchild in it as well. The unborn grandchild is even given a name, George Babatunde Balogun. These opening ten minutes prepensely set the tone for the film, where fertility would be conceiving a breed of dilemma, turmoil and lies within the Nigerian family living in Brooklyn, as the newlyweds undergo a burdensome marriage that is not blessed with an offspring. Dosunmu's experience as a fashion creative director and photographer is definitely eminent in the film, adeptly translated into a richly textured story. Mother of George is visually exquisite, as Dosunmu weaves an array of exuberant colors, elaborate customs and still shots with off-centre framing into his film. I like the subtle yet absorbing soundtrack as well, from the faint Nigerian juju music in the background to the sound mix that helps build accentuations when needed. The filming is deliberately made to echo the characters' sense of dislocation. "I wanted to show a New York completely different from what you usually see. What I really love about it is that many immigrants have their own oases in this metropolis," Dosunmu who is an émigré himself shares (he moved to the city from Nigeria 18 years ago). He also explains that the camera follows Adenike in a way that is both claustrophobic and uncertain, with the intention to make the audience feel just like her. "We want to see more, but we can't, and that's how she feels; she wants more clarity, but she doesn't have the solution." The fertility drama is further accomplished with the profound acting, especially by the lead Gurira. The actress of Zimbabwean descent, known for her role in AMC's TV series The Walking Dead, is a treat to watch. Her stoic face shows us her adamant pursue to make her family complete, yet your hearts will be stolen when you watch her breaking down as she struggles to conform to tradition. Coupled with eloquent writing by Darci Picoult, and breathtaking cinematography by Bradford Young, who won Cinematography Awards at the Sundance Film Festival for his work on Pariah (2011), Mother of George and Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013), Mother of George is evocative, equally stunning and heartbreaking to watch. It also co-stars Tony Okungbowa and Yaya Alafia. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Good movie aesthetic and cultural point of view. The film is a little sleepy, but has value. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member A touching immigrant drama in which the camera loves foregrounding as much as it loves it's characters. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member While the script was uneventful and dialogue unrealistic, the cinematography featured in Mother of George is unforgettable, breaking all the rules in film, and is only sometimes frustrating. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a a very visually appealing film backed by a script full of hard choices and consequences. A Nigerian immigrant family finds deceit and discord as they try to mesh their culture with American culture and medical system. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Mother of George

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