Mothering Sunday
Set over a day in 1924, the story follows Jane Fairchild, a maid in the Niven household, who has the day off to celebrate Mothering Sunday while Mr. and Mrs. Niven attend a lunch to celebrate the engagement of their neighbour’s only remaining son, Paul, to Emma Hobday. Jane rejoices at her freedom on an unseasonably hot, beautiful spring day. But, she has no mother to go to. For almost seven years she has – joyfully and without shame – been Paul’s lover. Like the Nivens, Paul belongs to England’s old money aristocracy, whereas Jane was orphaned at birth. With the house conveniently empty, they can finally meet in Paul’s bedroom for the first time. Today will be their last as lovers. It is also the day that will mark the beginning of Jane’s transformation as the story unfolds through the hours of clandestine passion.
- Released: 2021-11-12
- Runtime: 110 minutes
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Stars: Odessa Young, Josh O'Connor, Olivia Colman, Colin Firth, Glenda Jackson, Sope Dirisu, Nathan Reeve, Samuel Barlow, Dexter Raggatt, Patsy Ferran, Charlie Oscar, Emma D'Arcy, Simon Shepherd, Caroline Harker, Craig Crosbie, Emily Woof, Alex Cubb, Forrest Bothwell, Albert Welling, Sarita Gabony, Steve Brody
- Director: Eva Husson
Comments
- tenzinolivia - 13 April 2023
The bareness of a great metaphor
Mothering Sunday is a fine and sensitive movie, that moves on the fine lines between deep, transcendent and boring.
A lot of opposing opinions has been aired about this film, and I believe it all comes down to once own ability to relate to the topics: artistic birth, loss, war and neglected youth which are all topics in this movie.
I personally found the strong symbolism and delicate details fantastic and original. My favourite part is when Jane walks naked through Paul's house, and studies his home as one of 2000's most descriptive metaphor for the vulnerability in loving someone, and letting someone love you.
I can see how the film at times bends towards the more drawn out, and "quiet without purpose" feel, however it is a film with substance when payed attention to, and it holds a originality and a new-thinking in terms of time and structure(done well) in film. It is at times given even more life by Olivia Coleman and Colin firths fantastic performances(which has not been mentioned enough).
Overall a brilliant film, for those for whom it may concern 🍁 - m-drennanjones - 17 August 2022
Beautiful film, but heartbreaking.
I don't think this movie deserves the low ratings. Sure, it's a story told again...love and loss. But when it can be seen like this, it is nothing short of beautiful. The filmography was gorgeous. The story sad, but wonderful. Odessa was brilliant. Her pretty eyes, his mouth, the books, the longing. There is nothing lacking in this film. - brockfal - 24 May 2022
Beautiful, elegiac, but...
This is a stunningly beautiful film, full of period details, visual flourishes, featuring in particular a wonderful score by Morgan Kirby. From a Graham Swift novel It's set mostly in post WW1 England and is essentially about the passage of time, sex and love, loss and mourning. It's well played by the two leads, Odessa Young and Josh O'Connor but I found it otherwise somewhat less effective. Despite some explicit scenes and the emotive subject matter, much of the drama and some performances lacked passion, was stilted, and even emotionally inert, so the film never quite came alive. I did like this film, but I couldn't help thinking that it could have been much better.
