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Mother Mother (2024 film)

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Mother Mother
Directed byK'naan Warsame
Written byK'naan Warsame
Produced by
Starring
  • Maan Youssouf Ahmed
  • Elmi Rashid Elmi
  • Hassan Najib
  • Ubah Egal
CinematographyCésar Charlone
Edited by
  • Sabine Hoffman
  • Geraud Brisson
Music byIsobel Waller-Bridge
Production
companies
Release date
  • September 6, 2024 (2024-09-06) (TIFF)
Running time
107 minutes
Countries
  • Canada
  • Kenya
  • Somalia
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Languages
  • Somali
  • English

Mother Mother is a 2024 drama film written and directed by K'naan Warsame,[1] in his directorial debut after being previously best known as a hip hop musician. The film stars Maan Youssouf Ahmed as Qalifo, a widowed mother in Somalia who must go to extraordinary lengths to restore the peace after her son, Asad (Elmi Rashid Elmi), is drawn into a violent confrontation with American tourist Liban (Hassan Najib).[2]

Plot

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On a lonely farm in rural Somalia, the widowed Qalifo (Maan Youssouf Ahmed) and her college-age son Asad (Elmi Rashid Elmi) raise camels. Asad lives in the shadow of his late father's violent reputation and bristles at Qalifo's strict parenting, escaping to a nearby village whenever he can. And when Asad learns his girlfriend has been seeing another boy, the American visitor Liban (Hassan Najib), a confrontation is inevitable.

Cast

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  • Maan Youssouf Ahmed as Qalifo
  • Hassan Najib as Liban
  • Elmi Rashid Elmi as Asad
  • Ubah Egal as Kadro

Production and release

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The film was partially based on a real incident from Warsame's own life in Somalia prior to his family escaping to Canada as refugees.[3] The lead character is named in memory of his aunt, who died of cancer just as production began on the film.[4]

A co-production of companies from Kenya, Somalia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, the film premiered in the Discovery program at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.[5]

Critical response

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Beandra July of IndieWire graded the film a B+, writing that "by the end of 'Mother Mother' it dawned on me that this is precisely the kind of movie I come to TIFF for, a real voice that disabuses me of my assumptions, and my cynicism from the pain of watching so many movies that erase and belittle the Qalifas of the world. A movie that sends me back out into the light of day wondering."[2]

At TIFF, the film won the FIPRESCI Prize.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Shea, Courtney (September 6, 2024). "'This movie is about the overlooked': K'naan Warsame on his first feature film, Mother Mother". Toronto Life. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b July, Beandrea (September 8, 2024). "'Mother Mother' Review: A Slow Burn Somali Drama Defies Expectations with a Complex Study of Familial Ties". IndieWire. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  3. ^ Vourlias, Christopher (September 6, 2024). "'Wavin' Flag' Singer K'naan Warsame Dips Into His Own Life Story for Film Director Debut, 'Mother Mother'". Variety. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  4. ^ Gheciu, Alex Nino (September 6, 2024). "K'naan got tired of the spotlight. So he stepped behind the camera for his debut film". The Canadian Press. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Ntim, Zac (July 24, 2024). "TIFF 2024: Laura Carreira's 'On Falling' & 'Bonjour Tristesse' Starring Chloë Sevigny Among Titles Set For Discovery Sidebar". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  6. ^ Pond, Steve (September 15, 2024). "'The Life of Chuck' Wins Toronto Film Festival's People's Choice Award". TheWrap. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
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