Mother of George
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Mother of George
| image = Mother of George poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| alt =
| director = Andrew Dosunmu
| producer = Patrick S. Cunningham
| writer = Darci Picoult
| starring = {{Plainlist|
}}
| music =
| cinematography = Bradford Young
| editing = Oriana Soddu
| distributor = Oscilloscope Laboratories
| released = {{Film date|2013|01|18|Sundance Film Festival|2013|09|13|United States|df=y}}
| runtime = 106 minutes
| country = {{Plainlist|
- Nigeria
- United States
}}
| language = {{Plainlist|
- Yoruba
- English
}}
| budget =
}}
Mother of George is a 2013 drama film directed by Andrew Dosunmu{{cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Todd|title=Mother of George: Sundance Review|date=19 January 2013 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/mother-george/review/413982|work=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=5 March 2013}} and tells the story of a newly married Nigerian couple in Brooklyn who own and manage a small restaurant while struggling with fertility issues. The film was produced by Patrick S. Cunningham and Rhea Scott.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/biz/little-minx-delivers-tom-clancys-ghost-recon-alpha-for-ubisoft-62999.html|title=Little Minx Delivers "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Alpha" for Ubisoft|date=2012-05-16|work=Cartoon Brew|access-date=2017-03-06|language=en-US}}
An international co-production of Nigeria and the United States, Mother of George premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Cinematographer Bradford Young won Sundance 2013's Cinematography Award: U.S. Dramatic for his work on the film, as well as for Ain't Them Bodies Saints.{{cite news |title=2013 Sundance Film Festival Announces Feature Film Awards |url=https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/2013-sundance-film-festival-announces-feature-film-awards/ |access-date=3 April 2023 |work=Sundance Film Festival |date=27 January 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mother-of-george-2013 |title=Mother of George |website=RogerEbert.com |last=Cheshire |first=Godfrey |author-link=Godfrey Cheshire |date=13 September 2013}} Mother of George was also selected as the closing night film at the 2013 Maryland Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://md-filmfest.com/festival/film-guide/59|title=Mother of George|publisher=Maryland Film Festival|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607072424/http://www.md-filmfest.com/festival/film-guide/59|archivedate=2013-06-07|accessdate=2013-08-31|url-status=dead}}
The film was acquired for U.S. distribution by Oscilloscope Laboratories and was given a limited theatrical release on 13 September 2013.{{cite web|title=Oscilloscope Acquires Andrew Dosonmu's Mother of George|url=https://deadline.com/2013/01/sundance-oscilloscope-acquires-andrew-dosunmus-mother-of-george-413717/|date=16 January 2013|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=14 March 2013}}
Plot
The film opens with the wedding of a Nigerian couple, Ayodele and Adenike Balogun. Adenike is given fertility beads by her mother-in-law, Mama Ayo and although the couple makes love on their first night of marriage, Adenike struggles to become pregnant. Despite drinking tea that is supposed to help with fertility, Adenike is still unable to conceive and faces growing pressure from Mama Ayo. A visit to the doctor reveals that Adenike can receive help on the issue, but Ayodele refuses to cooperate.
Sade mentions adoption but Adenike insists that she wants to give birth to the child herself. Mama Ayo raises a controversial option: Adenike could conceive the child with Ayodele's brother, Biyi. Biyi initially refuses to participate in the scheme but eventually gives in. Following this Adenike becomes pregnant. Ayodele believes he is the father.
The guilt becomes too much for Adenike to bear, and she finally tells her husband the truth. Ayodele subsequently walks out of the marriage and confronts his mother. Adenike goes into labor, and the film concludes as Ayodele joins the others at the hospital.
Cast
- Isaach de Bankolé as Ayodele Balogun
- Danai Gurira as Adenike Balogun
- Bukky Ajayi as Ma Ayo Balogun
- Tony Okungbowa as Biyi Balogun
- Yaya DaCosta as Sade Bakere
- Klarissa Jackson as Atibo
- Ishmael Omolade as Dave
- Roslyn Ruff as Doctor
- Chinaza Uche as Frank
- Florence Egbuchulam as Funke
- Mutiyat Ade-Salu as Helen
- Deen Badarou as Mr. Lawal
- Susan Heyward as Monica
- Ebbe Bassey as Yinka
- Babs Olusanmokun as Tunde
- Hubert Point Du Jour as Tony
Reception
The film received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a 91% rating based on 45 reviews, with an average rating of 7.20 out of 10. The site consensus states "Director Andrew Dosunmu's style takes some getting used to, but Mother of George compensates with powerful acting, a thoughtful script, and gorgeous visuals."{{cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mother_of_george_2013/ | title=Mother of George on Rotten Tomatoes |website=Rotten Tomatoes | access-date=1 April 2022 }} On Metacritic it has a score of 77% based on reviews from 21 critics.{{cite web |title=Mother of George |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mother-of-george |website=Metacritic}}
It has been praised for its excellent camera work, setting, and plot, although the screenplay has received some criticism.{{cite web |date=14 September 2013 |title=Review: Andrew Dosunmu's "Mother of George" |url=http://africasacountry.com/review-andrew-dosunmus-mother-of-george/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916150129/http://africasacountry.com/review-andrew-dosunmus-mother-of-george/ |archive-date=16 September 2013 |website=Africa's a Country}} It was listed as a New York Times Critics’ Pick.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/13/movies/mother-of-george-stars-danai-gurira-as-a-hopeful-bride.html |title=Trying to Be a Parent, for Better or for Worse |newspaper=New York Times |last=Scott |first=A.O. |author-link=A. O. Scott |date=12 September 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|2094890|Mother of George}}
- {{Facebook|motherofgeorge|Mother of George}}
- {{mojo title |id=motherofgeorge |title=Mother of George}}
- {{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/mother-of-george-movie-review/2013/10/16/ba123ad6-35ad-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_story.html |title='Mother of George' movie review |last1=Hornaday |first1=Ann |date=2013-10-16 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2017-03-09 |issn=0190-8286}}
{{Andrew Dosunmu}}
Category:2013 independent films
Category:2010s English-language films
Category:English-language drama films
Category:English-language Nigerian films
Category:Films directed by Andrew Dosunmu
Category:Films set in Brooklyn
Category:Films set in the United States
Category:Films shot in the United States
Category:Sundance Film Festival award–winning films