Freaky Friday
The 2012 Disney film follows Merida, a Scottish princess who doesn’t conform to tradition. Her controlling mother Elinor would like nothing more than for her to marry an eligible suitor. As her desire for freedom grows, Merida ends up making a wish that transforms her mom into a bear. And so ensues their journey as mother and daughter to truly understand each other. While Elinor begins to see Merida’s free spirit and appreciate her as she is, Merida also sees the importance of her mother and her love. Brave might be a children’s animated movie but it captures the nuances of motherhood well. Moreover, it celebrates the mother-daughter bond along with its ups and downs.
Bird Box
A post-apocalyptic horror movie might not sound like a typical Mother’s Day watch but Bird Box’s central theme is motherhood. The highly gripping plot revolves around Malorie (Sandra Bullock), a mother of two. She has to protect herself and her children against supernatural beings that can cause humans to commit suicide if they look at them. Malorie takes on several life-threatening challenges to keep her children alive and goes to great lengths to protect them from harm. And she does it with a blindfold on. However, the film doesn’t just focus on the sacrifices but also the resilience of a mother in a harsh world.
Bad Moms
When it comes to relatable movies centred around mothers, Bad Moms is an essential. The film is about three mothers who are overworked and exhausted. Like most mothers, they struggle to balance their mommy duties with their own individual hopes and desires. Through the course of the film, we see how demanding motherhood can be from working on events in their kids’ schools to managing their homes. The film sees the characters embrace their imperfections and find the sweet spot between caring for their families and prioritising themselves. It’s a funny and incredibly real portrayal of being a mom.
Little Women
Little Women is a classic that explores various facets of womanhood. The 2019 film directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Tomothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and others, is an adaptation worth watching. The film showcases a strong and independent matriarch in Marmee, the mother of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. As a mother Marmee is gentle and nurturing. She’s also strong and a great role model for her daughters. We also see different generations of moms as the girls grow up and experience motherhood themselves. The film is a fresh look at what it means to be a mother.
Mama Mia!
Mama Mia! is perhaps the best Mother’s Day movie because it’s one of the best celebrations of motherhood. The musical film filled with covers of hit ABBA songs places motherhood at its core. It follows Donna (Meryl Streep), a single mother who raises her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and runs a successful business on a Greek island. The film doesn’t just offer a look at Donna as a mom but also gives her enough backstory to fully explore her perspective. The film is uplifting and spotlights the enduring love of mothers.
Stepmom
If we were to describe the 1998 drama starring a stellar cast including Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris and others, in one word it would be heartwarming. The film revolves around Jackie (Sarandon), a divorced mother of two who is diagnosed with cancer and Isabel (Roberts) a woman who becomes the stepmom to Jackie’s kids. While the two moms start out with a strained equation, they ultimately begin to appreciate each other’s presence and develop a deep bond. The film focuses on not just the complexities of family dynamics but also the power of empathy. As an exploration of motherhood and the bonds between mothers and kids, the film is a moving watch.
Not Without My Daughter
This is probably the most intense film on the list. Not Without My Daughter is an extraordinary yet true story of Betty (Sally Field), an American mom who fights to rescue her daughter Mahtob (Sheila Rosenthal) from her abusive Iranian husband. Set against the backdrop of a humanitarian crisis, the film spotlights a mother’s determination when it comes to protecting her child.
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