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Mother, Couch!

Review by Rich Cline | 3/5

Mother, Couch!
dir-scr Niclas Larsson
prd Ella Bishop, Alex Black, Sara Murphy, Pau Suris
with Ewan McGregor, Ellen Burstyn, Rhys Ifans, Lara Flynn Boyle, Taylor Russell, F Murray Abraham, Lake Bell, Penelope Young, Ozzy Davidson, Mar'Ques Woolford, Shelby Lee, Cesar Ramos
release UK Mar.24 gff,
US 5.Jul.24
23/US 1h36

burstyn russell bell
TORONTO FILM FEST



Is it streaming?

mcgregor, ifans and boyle!
Set in a quirky kind of purgatory, this pitch-black comedy focuses on estranged siblings struggling to understand what's going on with their mother. Each has a different reaction to a messy situation that escalates in offbeat directions. Swedish writer-director Niclas Larsson creates characters and situations that feel very theatrical, generating a sense of intrigue about what's actually going on. And it's a staggering depiction of frazzled parent-child dynamics.
In a furniture store, David (McGregor) is in a rush to find a dresser for his mum (Burstyn) when she sits on a sofa and announces she's not moving. His more relaxed older brother Gruff (Ifans) seems unbothered, as does shopkeeper Bella (Russell). So they call their big sister Linda (Boyle). As Mom makes confusing requests, she comments on how unusual it is for the three siblings to be together. And not in a good way. Then after David stays overnight with her, mysterious manager Marcus (Abraham) turns up demanding a lot of cash.
Increasingly surreal flourishes abound, including the isolated nature of this huge store, which seems to be in a kind of limbo. Outside pressures abound: David is late for an event with his wife Anne (Bell) and kids, but he can't leave his mother, and anyway his car won't start. This family has a bundle of issues, and none of these people quite understand where this leaves them now. It takes awhile for these very different siblings to descend into a shouting match.

Indeed, the characters are astonishingly self-obsessed, failing to connect or even complete a thought when they try to communicate. This creates a complexity that the fine actors mine for all kinds of pungent details. At the centre, Burstyn is as tremendous as ever, playing this fascinating woman with layers of unfathomable depth. With the story seen through David's eyes, McGregor finds terrific layers as he tries to juggle the responsibilities of being a son, brother, husband and father.

Previously unspoken things swell up in various scenes, highlighting textures that emerge between family members who care about but rarely truly understand each other. The script cleverly plays with these things that people don't say, although it's frustrating to watch people talk in circles, neither asking questions nor listening to answers. All of this is somewhat enigmatic and stagey, especially as the action drifts over the top, but it's packed with clever touches that provoke thought.

cert 15 themes, language, violence 1.Jul.24

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© 2024 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
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