Rating: 
Summary: "I can't go back, I'm frightened."
Review: While visiting their two grown children in London the elderly patriarch dies unexpectedly of a heart attack, and his wife, May, is left with a vast emptiness that is difficult to comprehend and handle. Filled with grief and an overbearing sense of remorse May decides that she simply can't return home; she decides to stay in London and spend time with her children, much to Paula and Bobby's general apathy. While living with her daughter Paula, a single mother, May comes across as a typical meddling parent concerned about Paula's affair with Bruce, a married man who is building an extension to Bobby's house, and her questionable writing career. As their conversations grow more heated May is confronted with the truth of her inability to love and nurture Paula both in the past and present. In an effort to ascertain Bruce's feelings towards Paula May begins to hang out at Bobby's house when everyone else is at work, but she quickly becomes interested in Bruce on her own terms. May's desire for passion and seduction are aroused in the guest bedroom upstairs; and she even has thoughts of going away with Bruce and giving him money. As this film progresses there is little doubt that May finds herself in a very precarious situation. One of the many strengths of THE MOTHER is the portrayal of the emotional needs of human nature. There is an abundant of silent scenes demanding reflection and concern. The characters are realistically flawed resulting in a grown family unraveling at the edges. This film is a portrait of a recent widow who is far from winning a mother of the year award and finds herself virtually alone with many skeletons in the closet. Recommended.
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