The most recent film screened as a part of the NY Film Critics Series was “Mothers and Daughters”, which was released just in time for Mother’s Day.
The story follows several mother – daughter relationships as they are tied together through the lens of rock photographer Rigby Gray (Selma Blair). Rigby has been offered an amazing working opportunity to follow a musician on tour when an unexpected pregnancy changes everything. As she ponders the shocking news, she begins exploring her relationship with her own mother and the idea of what life would be like if she became a mother.
The film has many talented actresses including Susan Sarandon, Sharon Stone, Mira Sorvino, Courtney Cox and Christina Ricci. Each story has its own interesting mother daughter relationship exploring many tense relationships filled with love, loss, and transformation.
Christina Ricci is a young woman who finds out that her sister (Courtney Cox) is actually her mother. Mira Sorvino plays a designer who is contacted by her daughter she had put up for adoption. Sharon Stone plays a very successful woman who does not settle for anything less than the best, especially when it comes to her daughter played by Alexandra Daniels. This puts a strain on their relationship as her daughter strives to become successful and follow her dreams.
Technology also plays an interesting role in the film showing how many relationships have developed over the years as Susan Sarandon and her real life daughter Eva Amurri Martino reconnect on skype after the two have not spoken in years.
The film is filled with emotions and several moments that bring tears to your eyes.
Following the screening, there was a Q&A with Ashanti hosted by Alison Bailes. Ashanti has a small role in the film playing a reporter, she is an executive producer, and her song, “Mother” plays at the end during the credits.
Ashanti is extremely close with her mom. Her mother is also her manager and was in the front row cheering on her daughter.
Ashanti explained that she was approached about the film especially due to the real life, close relationship she has with her mother. She loved the message of the film and that it was filled with so many talented actresses. She discussed the important of encouraging women and how this was a film filled with women empowerment.
Her favorite mother – daughter relationship of the film was Christina Ricci and Courtney Cox. She found this relationship the most interesting.
When asked which character she is the most like, she answered that she finds herself to be most like Selma Blair’s character, Rigby. Rigby is independent, creative, and always on the go.
Her song “Mother” is also featured at the end of the film. This was a beautiful song that she wrote about her mother.
NYFCS also attended the “Mothers and Daughters” premiere in LA and Claudia Puig (USA Today, NPR) had a chance to chat with the Director Paul Duddridge, Selma Blair, and Sharon Stone.
Leave a Reply