Four Mothers
Adapted from "Mid-August Lunch by Gianni Di Gregorio", James McArdle shines in the role of Edward, a man who struggles to find his voice or backbone, weighed down by fear and unable to assert his own agency.
Film
A frustrating yet heartwarming comedy, Four Mothers (which won the audience award at the BFI London Film Festival this year) is an adaptation of "Mid-August Lunch by Gianni Di Gregorio", an Italian comedy from 2008.
James McArdle shines in the role of Edward, a man who struggles to find his voice or backbone, weighed down by fear and unable to assert his own agency. As the story unfolds, the circumstances don’t necessarily grow more complex, but they do become increasingly frustrating. Edward allows the demands and personal needs of the Four Mothers under his care—and, by extension, the lives and agency of his friends—to overwhelm him, threatening to derail his chances of a successful career after his novel gains unexpected popularity on TikTok.
While not all of the performances reach the same level as McArdle’s, and some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped, the story touches on something deeply urgent and relevant, at least for me: how obligation can overshadow a life, providing a convenient excuse for not truly living it.
Four Mothers is released in UK and Irish cinemas 4th April.
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