featuring @a24 @annehathaway
Mother Mary is a dreamy, introspective chamber drama from David Lowery that reunites a globe-conquering pop icon with her estranged former collaborator and costume designer in the days leading up to a high-stakes comeback performance. Starring Anne Hathaway as the enigmatic “Mother Mary” and Michaela Coel as Sam Anselm, the film unfolds mostly in a rural English workshop, blending elements of psychological tension, artistic introspection, and subtle supernatural undertones.
At its core, Mother Mary explores the volatile, codependent bond between two creative powerhouses whose personal and professional fallout still lingers. Mary, recovering from a traumatic onstage incident, seeks out Sam to craft the perfect dress that will help her reclaim her stage persona. What follows is a tense two-hander filled with long, charged conversations, unresolved resentments, and moments where metaphor and the metaphysical blur together—sometimes literally, in the form of a mysterious red presence that ties their shared history.
Lowery leans heavily into his signature style: prioritizing atmosphere, sound design, and striking visuals over straightforward plotting. The film has a hypnotic, almost fever-dream quality, with gorgeous production design, inventive cinematography, and sequences that feel more like performance art than conventional narrative. One standout is a memorable no-music dance routine that showcases Hathaway’s physical commitment and the film’s willingness to let image and movement carry emotional weight.
Hathaway and Coel deliver strong performances. Hathaway fully embodies the larger-than-life yet fragile pop star—charismatic, needy, and haunted—while nailing the vocal and performative demands. The musical numbers are a definite highlight. Tracks (including contributions evoking artists like Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX, and FKA Twigs) pulse with energy and help flesh out Mother Mary’s artistic world. They provide welcome bursts of vitality and spectacle amid the more introspective stretches. I personally would have loved even more of them—the songs and performances are where the film feels most alive and accessible.
That said, the film’s heavy reliance on metaphors, symbolic imagery, and abstract explorations of fame, friendship, creativity, and emotional possession isn’t entirely my cup of tea. The supernatural/ghostly elements and ponderous monologues can sometimes feel exhausting or overly self-serious rather than illuminating, and the story occasionally drifts into vagueness that prioritizes vibe over clarity or emotional payoff. It’s the kind of ambitious, arty endeavor that will resonate deeply with fans of Lowery’s more surreal work (A Ghost Story, The Green Knight) but may test the patience of viewers craving a tighter narrative or more grounded drama.
Despite those reservations, Mother Mary is a visually intoxicating and technically impressive piece with undeniable craft. The leads elevate it and the musical moments shine. It’s not for everyone, but for those open to its hypnotic, metaphorical currents, it offers a unique and haunting experience.
Screening at Luna Leederville from May 14.
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
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