Penned by Evelyne and Gabriela Tollman and subsequently directed by Gabriella Tollman, Somebody's Mother is a filmmaker's masterclass in its deep exploration of the human condition. It's also one that reminds us that elite indie films are every bit as capable of manifesting the tonal consistency, storytelling subtleties, and excellence in cinematography, editing, and color process that the best of their major studio counterparts can achieve.
There isn't anything that isn't presented honestly and without aching vulnerability in this film about loss, grief, and guilt following the death of a child. And true to its subject matter, Gabriela Tollman conjures a deafening quietness in her spellbinding direction that remains unwavering throughout. The acting is wonderful, with the female lead demonstrating extreme nuance in pulling the vast weight of this story. Editing and cinematography are near-flawless in their thoughtful conception: The lighting deftly veers toward stage theater at times, providing a sense of isolation that almost leaves us feeling guilty for our voyeurism as we see the most inward-focused scenes play out in psychological seclusion.
In a real world in which soul-baring is only now gaining true understanding as a necessary step in psychological self-repair, storytelling relating to the loss of a child remains one of the last taboos - perhaps too painful to articulate for most storytellers and too difficult for audiences. But only in the telling can the arts once again be called upon to lift these isolated subject matters to the light. Somebody's Mother is that exact kind of lighthouse film - one that through its sublime crafting, execution, and quiet leadership allows us to engage the very deepest of our sorrows in search of redemption.
There isn't anything that isn't presented honestly and without aching vulnerability in this film about loss, grief, and guilt following the death of a child. And true to its subject matter, Gabriela Tollman conjures a deafening quietness in her spellbinding direction that remains unwavering throughout. The acting is wonderful, with the female lead demonstrating extreme nuance in pulling the vast weight of this story. Editing and cinematography are near-flawless in their thoughtful conception: The lighting deftly veers toward stage theater at times, providing a sense of isolation that almost leaves us feeling guilty for our voyeurism as we see the most inward-focused scenes play out in psychological seclusion.
In a real world in which soul-baring is only now gaining true understanding as a necessary step in psychological self-repair, storytelling relating to the loss of a child remains one of the last taboos - perhaps too painful to articulate for most storytellers and too difficult for audiences. But only in the telling can the arts once again be called upon to lift these isolated subject matters to the light. Somebody's Mother is that exact kind of lighthouse film - one that through its sublime crafting, execution, and quiet leadership allows us to engage the very deepest of our sorrows in search of redemption.