True Mothers

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True Mothers

2020

2h 20m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

An adopted son's mother receives an unexpected visit from the boy's biological mother.

Critics Consensus

True Mothers uses an intractable conflict to explore the bonds of parenthood with director/co-writer Naomi Kawase's usual sensitivity and grace.

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

[A] tender, compassionate drama about the complexities of motherhood.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 18, 2021

Full Review

Clarisse Loughrey

Independent (UK)

Kawase's cast embrace the power of small gestures, especially Makita.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 16, 2021

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Raphael Abraham

Financial Times

Delicately, the director peels away the layers of propriety and eventually the emotional heart of the movie does reveal itself and make its presence felt - it's just that Kawase takes a circuitous, scenic route to get there.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 14, 2021

Full Review

Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

Kawase films with a gauzy haze, which heightens the moments of hopefulness, and shows the empathetic light with which she paints their world.

Feb 13, 2024

Full Review

Carla Monfort

Espinof

True Mothers uses melodrama to dig into the meaning of motherhood and spins the narrative structure to soberly and sensitively show the characters' internal dilemmas. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 5, 2023

Full Review

Wilson Kwong

easternKicks.com

In Naomi Kawases True Mothers, what couldve easily been a tearjerker of a melodrama, is instead a tender and surprisingly restrained tale of motherhood.

Feb 12, 2022

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matthew r

First off, this is a fine film. The amount of social and personal issues this movie touched on was immense but it didn't feel like it. Its when the movie is over you realize everything the film spoke to. The acting was divine, some of the best I've seen in a long time. Fair warning, this movie is slow and, at least to me, some reactions get lost in translation. Yet, once again, a Japanese film shows us the beauty of the people who are part of that culture. The imagery, both physical and emotional, are beautiful. This film can show us a beauty when anger and self-pity are not a part of life and how lovely society is when it's people truly have respect for each other.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

There are not so many movies that leave a mark - a lasting impact... Every aspect of the movie was so deeply thought out and beautifully created. A movie I'll never forget.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

A very strong film. It is wonderfully moving and carries you away in contemplation over the characters misjudgments and decisions.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

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Naomi Kawase

Director

Arata Iura

Kiyokazu Kurihara

Hiromi Nagasaku

Satoko Kurihara

Aju Makita

Hikari Katakura

Reo Sato

Asato Kurihara

Hiroko Nakajima

Takako Katakura

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Synopsis

An adopted son's mother receives an unexpected visit from the boy's biological mother.

Director: Naomi Kawase
Producer: Yumiko Takebe
Screenwriter: Naomi Kawase
Production Co: Kumie, Inc., Kazumo, Kinoshita Group Holdings, Kino Films
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2021
Runtime: 2h 20m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)