Anyone who has seen Requiem For a Dream or Black Swan knows what to expect when buying a ticket to a Darren Aronofsky film. But his latest, mother!, will unhinge even the most clued-in fans…
An Aronosky movie promises to be provocative, abject, and confusing. His latest, mother! starring Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, hit cinemas a few weeks ago and reviews have been mixed. Is it good? Potentially. Is it bad? Maybe. Having seen the film and finished it with my mouth left agape and my body shaking with disbelief, I think it’s best for everyone who’s curious and yet to witness its absurdity go in armed with a few tidbits.
1) Don’t be fooled by the poster! It might look like Black Swan, but try to find a hidden connection and you’ll likely blow a fuse.
2) Gather information! mother! is a harshly allegorical movie covering a range of concepts from ecological (the abuse of Mother Earth), to societal (gender roles) and the more interpretations you have, the better.
3) Watch out for references! Some are more obvious than others, such as the nods to Eden and Cain and Abel: pick up on these and you’re on the right track. But others, for example the yellow wallpaper, and a reference to a Charlotte Perkins Gilman novel, can trip you up.
Follow these guidelines and your experience of mother! will still leave you shaken, but at least with a clearer idea of whether it’s worthy of a positive review… or not.
Have you seen mother! yet? Any insights to share? Leave us a comment below!