Mothering Sunday

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2:06

Mothering Sunday

R

Released Mar 25, 2022

1h 45m

Romance

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

137 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

On a warm spring day in 1924, house maid and foundling Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young) finds herself alone on Mother's Day. Her employers, Mr. and Mrs. Niven (Colin Firth and Olivia Colman), are out and she has the rare chance to spend quality time with her secret lover. Paul (Josh O'Connor) is the boy from the manor house nearby, Jane's long-term love despite the fact that he's engaged to be married to another woman, a childhood friend and daughter of his parents' friends. But events that neither can foresee will change the course of Jane's life forever.

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Critics Consensus

Mothering Sunday works at a frustratingly chilly remove, but involving performances and solid overall craft mean it's rarely less than engaging.

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David Stratton

The Australian

The film as a whole succeeds superbly both in its evocation of a sensual, erotic love affair and in its treatment of the bereaved families who, despite their elevated place in society, can never replace all that they’ve lost.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 11, 2022

Full Review

Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

O’Connor is an actor who always seems to be regarding life with a raised eyebrow and the rapport between him and Young turns them into loving co-conspirators meditating on the fluidity of time.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 4, 2022

Full Review

Anne T. Donahue

Globe and Mail

Mothering Sunday, a heart-wrenching drama directed by Eva Husson and based on the novel by Graham Swift, shows that people are more than what they do. They are also the sum of their traumas.

Apr 13, 2022

Full Review

Louis Skye (Ronita Roy Mohan)

Women Write About Comics

It embraces grief and that never-ending sense of loss that so many are experiencing right now. If you don’t want to feel sad, this may not be the film for you. But if you want a reflection of the human condition again, this is the film to tune into.

Aug 21, 2025

Full Review

Hector A. Gonzalez

The Movie Buff

“Mothering Sunday” is yet another period piece with great performances, beautiful cinematography, posh costumes, and has an excellent score to accompany it. Still, it’s so self-important and ‘elegantly’ contrived that it feels hollow and unenjoyable.

Rated: D

Sep 8, 2024

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Mothering Sunday is not a heavy-duty tearjerker, but a tidy, lamentable story of fleeting love amongst social constraints.

Rated: B-

Feb 21, 2023

Full Review

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David W

I thought the film subtly unveiled the inner thoughts of the characters over the course of its run. Certainly not an action film but a fine job on character study

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/22/22

Full Review

Sherry M

It dragged a little, but I did like the flash forwards and flash backwards story telling.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/17/22

Full Review

JoArtFilms

I liked the moody tone of this film and the exceptional acting. The pace is probably slow for some viewers, but I found it introspective and nuanced.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/14/22

Full Review

Harry G

Too slow moving and really didn't understand who was what and what was who. Could only understand about half of dialogue spoken and continuous flashbacks contributed to confusion.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/14/22

Full Review

Kyra H

Intimate details of the lives of people with limited choices. The heroine opens access to freedom both for herself and the people she encounters.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/11/22

Full Review

Gary H

Great character driven film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/10/22

Full Review

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Eva Husson

Director

Odessa Young

Jane Fairchild

Josh O'Connor

Paul Sheringham

Colin Firth

Mr. Niven

Olivia Colman

Mrs. Niven

Sope Dirisu

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Mothering Sunday: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

On a warm spring day in 1924, house maid and foundling Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young) finds herself alone on Mother's Day. Her employers, Mr. and Mrs. Niven (Colin Firth and Olivia Colman), are out and she has the rare chance to spend quality time with her secret lover. Paul (Josh O'Connor) is the boy from the manor house nearby, Jane's long-term love despite the fact that he's engaged to be married to another woman, a childhood friend and daughter of his parents' friends. But events that neither can foresee will change the course of Jane's life forever.

Director: Eva Husson
Producer: Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley
Screenwriter: Alice Birch
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: ZDF/Arte, British Film Institute, Lipsync Productions, Number 9 Films, Film4
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Graphic Nudity|Some Language)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 25, 2022, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $274.3K
Runtime: 1h 45m

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