Dear Mother: The Absurd and Heartwarming Story of a Complicated Mother-Son Relationship
Dear Mother is a French drama film released in 2020, written and directed by Laurent Lafitte. The film follows the story of Jean-Louis Bordier, a lawyer who is going through a mid-life crisis. He is struggling with his marriage to his wife Valerie, who is five years older than him, and has a complicated relationship with his mother, Brigitte Bordier.
Jean-Louis, played by Laurent Lafitte, has a close friend, Michel Verdoux, who is a veterinarian. One day, while working out at a fitness center, Jean suffers a sudden and inexplicable health scare, which terrifies him. Michel helps him analyze his health, and they try to keep his condition under wraps, but Valerie discovers his secret.
When Michel and Jean are unable to find a medical explanation for his condition, they turn to Valerie’s spiritual guru, Margaux, for help. Margaux tells Jean that his health issues are related to his broken relationship with his mother. To heal himself, Jean is asked to photograph his mother’s vagina, where he first emerged into the world.
As strange as it sounds, this is just a part of the absurdity that surrounds the relationship between Jean and his mother. Dear Mother is a unique, twisted, and darkly comic tale of a complex mother-son relationship, touching on themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption.
The film is carried by its offbeat humor and its heart, which help to balance out its weirder moments. Director Laurent Lafitte’s approach to the story is fresh and creative, and he manages to find a strange kind of beauty in the characters’ flaws and quirks.
The film’s lead actors give mesmerizing performances, with Laurent Lafitte perfectly embodying Jean-Louis’ turmoil and confusion, and Karin Viard delivering an incredibly moving performance as Valerie. Vincent Macaigne is also excellent as Michel Verdoux, adding more depth to the film’s offbeat humor.
In conclusion, Dear Mother is a thought-provoking, absurd, and often hilarious film that takes a unique and refreshing approach to the exploration of the complicated relationship between mothers and sons. It provides a new perspective on family dynamics, sacrifice, and human connection. Watch it on Netflix today and discover the unconventional story of Jean and his mother, Brigitte Bordier.
