Four Mothers Is A Warm Comedy About Finding Fulfilment
If you’re looking for a comedy that’s both sweet and warmly funny, Four Mothers, which releases this month in a limited UK cinema release, is worth a look. An Irish film that stars James McArdle (Andor) as a novelist who has to take care of his ageing mother and several of her friends, the film promises some laughs. Here’s all you need to know…
What is Four Mothers about?
McArdle plays the central role of Edward, a queer novelist in his 30s who writes books about LGBT romances. He’s single but instead of looking for a relationship, he spends much of his life helping out his elderly mother, Alma, (played by Fionnula Flanagan), who is in her ninth decade and confined to a wheelchair. Her condition takes a toll on her mentally but also on her son, who is dedicated to helping her be comfortable in her later years. Her other son and his brother are elsewhere, leaving only Edward to care for her.
Out of the blue, however, Edward discovers that one of his published novels has become popular on social media, particularly in America. He’s offered a book tour in that country, but his commitments to his mother make this difficult. Things become even more complicated for the pair when several of Edward’s friends, who also have elderly mothers, leave for a Pride event together and ask to leave their mothers in his care. So he welcomes the other three elderly women, Jean, Maude and Rosey, to his home, and steels himself to look after them, still feeling frustrated at his lack of personal freedom.
Rather than all happily getting on, Alma finds herself at odds with the other four women, and there are plenty of clashes as the women have to get used to being in constant proximity. Despite all he has on his hands, Edward may yet learn that their years of wisdom collected from life can help him to become a more fulfilled person.
What else do we know, and is there a release date?
The rest of the cast includes Dearbhla Molloy, Paddy Glynn and Stella McCusker as Jean, Rosey and Maude, alongside Niamh Cusack and Gearoid Farrelly. The warmly uplifting comedy was released in cinemas on the 4th of April, and is available to stream in June on BFI Player.
