Four Mothers follows Edward (James McArdle), a writer trying to juggle his upcoming career success with the responsibility of caring for his elderly mother, Alma (Fionnula Flanagan). His plans are disrupted when his friends escape their own obligations for an impromptu weekend getaway to a Pride festival in Spain, leaving their unsuspecting mothers behind, with Edward. Cooped up together, Edward must navigate the demands of this fiery quartet, struggling to find his voice while reconciling his ambitions with the weight of his obligations.
Co-writers and brothers Darren and Colin Thornton return after their 2016 dark comedy A Date for Mad Mary, which won Best Script at the Irish Film and Television Awards. Now, they reimagine Gianni Di Gregorio’s Mid-August Lunch within an Irish context, drawing from their own experiences of moving home to care for their sick mother at the time of writing. Darren recalls how he and his brother “often found ourselves in the middle of the most absurd conflicts between all these older women, as we tried, often unsuccessfully, to keep the peace.” This authentic foundation informs the script’s deft fusion of humour and heartbreak, illustrating how, in the face of family struggles, absurdity can often nourish the soul.
One of the standout aspects of Four Mothers is its remarkable casting, which delivers terrific performances from its leading ladies. Flanagan’s portrayal of Alma, a woman rendered mute after suffering a stroke, is particularly striking. This challenge mirrors the Thorntons’ own experience of watching their mother struggle with the loss of her voice. Stripped of this essential layer of humanity, Alma communicates via an electronic device. Through a combination of sardonic expressions and physicality, Flanagan masterfully conveys Alma’s frustration and wit, underscoring the absurdity of the situation. Bossing her son around or gossiping about someone within earshot via the voice device is hilarious, yet always done with tenderness. The film’s ability to intertwine moments of humour with emotional depth keeps the audience fully engaged, shifting effortlessly between laughter and heartfelt reflection, just as life does.
Each actress portrays a fully developed and convincing character—no easy feat in a film that runs just shy of ninety minutes. The women, while dependent on Edward’s care, are also fiercely independent, with their own histories and desires emerging in a whirlwind of hilarious and sometimes combative moments. Forced into close quarters, the four women—Jean (Dearbhla Molloy), Maude (Stella McCusker), Rosey (Paddy Glynn), and Alma—begin to recognise their shared experiences, including the loss of husbands and the acceptance of their queer sons. A particularly powerful scene takes place in a minivan, where they share packed lunches and open up to one another about their sons coming out. In this simple setting, the women’s stories unfold, offering a quiet but profound exploration of queer narratives from an older generation of Irish traditionalism. What begins as an uncomfortable gathering gradually transforms into a celebration of a newfound sisterhood, which is beautiful to witness, especially for women in the later stages of their lives.
McArdle’s emotive performance as the story’s protagonist firmly anchors the narrative while allowing his female counterparts to shine through. He boasts an effortlessly delightful rapport with the mothers, naturally engaging with their cheeky banter and equally support their tender moments. This quality falters, however, when Edward must sell himself in promotional work for his novel. Crippled with anxiety, he is either a muddle of words or left speechless. McArdle’s nuanced portrayal ensures that Edward never becomes a pitiable figure; he’s not an object of sympathy but a real person, grappling with the tension between caring for others and striving to move forward in his own life.
Four Mothers is an exploration of family, identity, and community, deftly blending absurdity with emotional depth. At its heart, the film reveals how life’s challenges and unexpected connections can lead to profound self-discovery and the quiet strength found in the bonds we form.
Review by Olivia Kiakides
FOUR MOTHERS
A film by Darren Thornton
Writer-director-Darren Thornton, Co-writer – Colin Thornton
Releasing in cinemas in the UK 4th April 2025 by BFI Distribution
Screens at BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival on 28 and 29 March
Watch trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i1wyJMY-aI
Featured Image: L-R Dearbhla Molloy, Gaeten Garcia, Fionnula Flanagan, Stella McCusker, Paddy Glynn. Image courtesy BFI Distribution
