Mothers

When a mother fails to protect her children, the emotional consequences reverberate from difficult childhoods to the pains of adolescence, right through to the retrospective makings of the films themselves. Films in this block uncover maternal tensions, as well as some of the hidden sacrifices mothers make for their children.

Fitting
Australia (14min), Dir: Emily Avila

Inside a lingerie fitting room, two strangers – a customer who has recently undergone a mastectomy and a bra fitter – are bound on a mission to find a bra that works.

Letter To My Mother
Germany/Iran/Malaysia (19min), Dir: Amina Maher

A heartfelt letter to tell the mother the most painful of secrets. Amina, who in 2002 was the small protagonist of Ten by Kiarostami is now a transgender director who tries to make her voice heard, understood, and be understood.” Written by 35th Lovers Film Festival

A fearless and strong autobiographical examination that touches upon the centre of the pain and that dares to look precisely. It finds exact scenes for despair and cruelty and searches openly for ways of coping.

Making Of Making Nothing
Switzerland (19min), Dir: Barbara Erni

The filmmaker makes frequent visits to her old mother who lives far away. The visits are trying. Invaded by the past she loses her creativity and sinks into lethargy. Why mother and daughter couldn’t they build a bond of trust? How was the life of her female ancestors? The filmmaker decides to tell this period starting with the family photos, and the videos and artistic photos made during this period. She sees her mother in a last encounter. Find out more here.

Another Mumday
United Kingdom (1min), Dir: Katia Shannon

A young mother struggles to balance the juxtaposition of intense maternal love and its repetitive frustrations.

Test – The IVF Film
United States (16min), Dir: Courtney Lamb

A short film about a long process. Melissa tells the story of her 4 years of trying to get pregnant after the age of 40, including 18 months of infertility treatments. In monologues and recreations, we join her on her surreal, painful, ridiculous, confusing, and heartbreaking quest.

This block will play on Friday 27th August at 1.30pm (GMT+1). The block contains some nudity and might not be suitable for younger audiences. It will play for approximately 70 minutes and be followed by a Q&A with any of the filmmakers who are in attendance. View our 2021 programme here.

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