Shadows on the Wall | Four Mothers

Four Mothers

dir Darren Thornton
scr Colin Thornton, Darren Thornton
prd Eric Abraham, Martina Niland, Jack Sidey
with James McArdle, Fionnula Flanagan, Dearbhla Molloy, Paddy Glynn, Stella McCusker, Gaetan Garcia, Niamh Cusack, Rory O'Neill, Gearoid Farrelly, Gordon Hickey, Leonora Lonsdale, Adam Fergus
release US Oct.24 ciff,
UK/Ire 4.Apr.25
24/Ireland 1h29

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McArdle and Garcia with Flanagan, Molloy, Glynn, McCusker, Gardia and Cusack

Sharply well written, and beautifully played by an engaging ensemble, this Irish comedy explores big issues while keeping a smile on our faces. It's a warm but sharply barbed film that feels like it was written from personal experience, so the story remains grounded even as it becomes increasingly farcical. And along the way, filmmakers Darren and Colin Thornton gently explore issues relating to ageing, sexuality, creativity and compassion.

In Dublin, Edward (McArdle) is nervous because his publicist (Lonsdale) wants him to do a book tour in America to promote his first novel. But his mother Alma (Flanagan), who can't walk or speak after a stroke. As Edward is trying to figure out who can care for her while he's away, three friends (O'Neill, Farrelly and Hickey) suddenly drop off their mothers (Glynn, Molloy and McCusker) so they can jet off to Pride in the Canary Islands. So Edward reaches out to his ex, physiotherapist Raf (Garcia), for help with these four rambunctious octogenarians.

Humour arrives from all sides, as Edward's frustration about being trapped in this carer role grows alongside his reactions to what's happening with his book. Each of these women has a sharp personality that feeds into the mayhem, as they demand Edward's attention and push him in various directions. At the centre is the fact that all of these women have accepted their openly gay sons on their own terms. And this powerfully feeds into ideas about family dynamics, growing older and the way relationships shift over time.

Each woman is a force of nature in her own inimitable way, performed to perfection by these four veteran actors. Even without saying a word, Flanagan holds the centre with force, adding hilarious physicality to each phrase that emerges from her touchscreen. As the rebellious Jean, Molloy gets her own strong moments, while McCusker's Maude offers some lovely sensitivity and Glynn's Rosey leads everyone on a road trip to visit a psychic (a riotous Cusack). Meanwhile, McArdle keeps Edward likeable even when he's being rather pathetic.

While the plot rolls along gently with a continuous stream of everyday humour woven throughout the interaction, the bigger issues remain cleverly in the background, never shouted out but impossible to miss. This makes this gem of a film thoroughly entertaining on a variety of levels, remaining utterly natural while being both funny and moving at the same time.

themes, language 23.Jan.25

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