Laço Materno (2020)

Chaotic, complex, and eye-opening.

First things first - watching this film was an experience. I thought that I was watching a documentary rather than a film - this is probably influenced by the fact that this is based on true events. I got sucked into its delivery and realism which was quite heavy to take in. If you aren't used to watching heavily-themed films, then this will be a difficult one to watch.

MOTHER reminds me of a Nojima Shinji kind-of story wherein the 'negative sides' of humanity, the complexities of human relationships, are laid bare. They aren't shown in a showy manner but as they are - dirty, difficult to comprehend, and even psychotic. The relationship between Akiko (the mother) and Shuhei (the son) is anything but what society sees as acceptable, yet to the latter, it is his norm and accepted reality. This film isn't just about murder, abuse, and casual sex - it's also about how twisted 'love' can be, how manipulation and violence can play heavily into a person's sense of dependency and reliance, and how things aren't always understandable on the surface, especially one of a relationship between a mother and son who have been together all their lives, one that's for better or for worse.

Impressive acting by the cast, especially by Nagasawa Masami - a natural, I must say - and Okudaira Daiken, whose eyes and expressions tell more than what he says. Hats off to Gunji Sho's Shuhei as well. The story moves from one timeline to another yet with consistency that doesn't leave you completely hanging. The music and the silence came in at the right times, adding to the heavy atmosphere that the film has.
If you're looking for a film that's gonna make you feel blissful, this is not that. MOTHER is gonna leave you with thoughts to ponder on and with an ending that doesn't inspire - it's simply a naked cut.

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Mother isn't movie only about parental abuse but a also a story about psycho mother who loves entertaining herself with poisonous men. Rather than "slice of life" story, it's telling more toxic relationship between them. The level of cruelty of a mother who only thinks about herself.
My heart is breaking every scenes her children had to move to another places, get involved with debt collectors and waiting for her psycho mother.
It's really hard to imagine children needs to go through manipulating, cruelty and abusive mother that he will never abandon her.
The great performance from Nagasawa Masami and Okudaira Daiken told the audience how wild and chaotic the movie is; not to mention the audience couldn't stand to watch it.
I remember once said on Shoplifters "You can't choose your own parents" and the director told us by that love is somehow default. she will never give him his own space and her son will always part of her.


Overall, this movie is the most sickening and depressing no moral values at all.

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