Mother and Son

Following her Caméra d’Or winning feature debut Jeune Femme, Léonor Seraille’s sophomore film Mother and Son is a multifaceted, tender portrait of an immigrant family who move to France from the Ivory Coast in 1989. They are Rose (a superb Annabelle Lengronne) and her young sons Jean and Ernest (played by Sidy Fofana and Milan Doucansi, and later by Stéphane Bak and Keno Sambin). Throughout the following years, Rose forms relationships with different men while her kids negotiate growing up within a fractured family dynamic (their other two brothers being left “back home” with their father for unknown reasons).

Each of the family members gets equal weight in the script, with an entire chapter dedicated to presenting events from their own perspective. The result is a familial portrait which branches outward as the years tick by, masterfully fleshing out the three key players to give a broader understanding of what they’re going through. It’s a deeply intimate exploration of belonging and brotherhood which is made all the better thanks to the phenomenal performances from the entire cast, each of whom feels completely natural in their respective role. The interactions between the actors are nuanced, subtle and immensely sweet. This is a film constructed by a series of small, quiet moments in which viewers are asked to observe the trio going about their lives. However, it’s when this tranquillity is interrupted by sudden dramatic beats that the full force of the drama is felt before the stillness returns once more.

The closeness to the characters is mirrored through Hélène Louvar’s camerawork. By sticking close to the subjects, the documentary-like presentation not only forms an emotional connection between actor and audience, but it also frames the trio as if they’re enclosed within their own bubble, not quite fitting in with the people around them. This theme of isolation is likewise reflected within the score as the soundtrack shifts from classical western melodies to traditional African beats, with the sounds eventually blending in an effective statement of identity. The question of where home is follows the protagonist throughout their time in France, with Seraille thoughtfully raising this point at key points throughout.

There’s no simple answer to any of the questions the family are left wondering in Mother and Son. However, in their search to find it, Seraille delivers a tremendously moving family drama.

Andrew Murray

Mother and Son is released in select cinemas on 30^th June 2023.

Watch the trailer for Mother and Son here: