This visually sumptuous drama finds a young Nigerian-American woman struggling to reconcile a new life and marriage in New York with the traditions of her homeland.
Acclaimed photographer-turned-director Andrew Dosunmu’s film opens with a heady rush of the sights and sounds of a vibrant, traditional Yoruba wedding. Ayodele (Isaach De Bankolé) and Adenike (The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira) are being married, and only after the ceremony is it apparent that the event is taking place not in Nigeria, but in Brooklyn. A recent immigrant, Adenike soon discovers her new life is still dictated by the ways of her homeland, where wives are expected to conceive children, specifically boys, without delay. Months pass and, much to the chagrin of her domineering mother-in-law, Adenike doesn’t get pregnant. As the pressure mounts she makes a desperate decision, one that might save her marriage or tear it apart.
Mother of George is a remarkable achievement for Dosunmu. Darci Picoult’s script is rich with detail and life, beautifully captured in award-winning cinematographer Bradford Young’s images. Together, the three have crafted an emotional, immersive experience that is a marvel from start to end.
Philadelphia Film Festival
‘visually splendid’
The New York Times
‘ravishing’
The Washington Post
‘stark, poetic power’
Variety
