Ma Mere (2004)

Challengingly stylish and original, Ma Mre is the story of Hlne (Isabelle Huppert), cool and in charge, her husband, and her teenage son Pierre (Louis Garrel), a pious Catholic boy back from boarding school. As Hlne confesses to her son about his father's infidelity, they hear he has been tragically killed in a car crash. This news sets in motion a wild series of parties involving drugs, alcohol and sex-filled nights out with Hlne and her female lover. Inexplicably, she pulls her son into her sordid lifestyle. When she mysteriously goes away, her son is left in the care of her mistress Ra (Joana Preiss) and Hansi (Emma de Caunes), an icy blonde sadist with whom he falls in love.

Two stars on the stimulation scale, maybe three for the story as a whole

When her emotionally distant husband dies in a car crash, his widow introduces their son to her parallel life of sex clubs and all-night partying (I guess it was an open marriage), hoping to bring the poor boy out of his shell a little. Somewhat provocative and engaging story is undercut by too much philosophical rambling, a general air of seediness, and a downer ending. I'm not saying that those elements represent weaknesses of the movie, only that they'll prevent you from enjoying the film on anything other than an "artistic" level, if you're inclined to do so. In other words, this isn't an exciting movie about a sexy mom introducing her shy son to her sexy friends. Though there is a sexy mom and some sexy friends. So, if the mere presence of those elements- underused as they are- is enough for you, go for it. Myself, I felt the movie wasn't a total loss, but I did find myself looking at my watch once or twice. July 28, 2008

Meh

Although I did enjoy this movie, I found some parts of it hard to follow. I thought it was beautifully filmed, but I felt like many of the sex scenes were gratuitous , and frankly, borderline pornographic. The scene where the three young adults (er, the son, the girl, the weasely looking guy) did the whole bondage thing...it just didn't seem necessary.
The ending was pretty hilarious though (I'm a bad person). This is a good film and all, but not the best to come out of France, it is also pretty disturbing. May 25, 2008

good but confusing

This movie was a little confusing and it is not one for chilren under 16 yrs old but it is entertaining once you finally get the jist of what is going on. April 20, 2008

Very dark ...

This film explores the dark and primeval recesses of human sexuality. It is thoroughly disturbing and at times disgusting.

It is a story of a misguided mother (played by the amazingly talented Isabelle Huppert) and her pitiful 17-year old son Pierre. She is as promiscuous as it gets and after her husband's accidental death, she unleashes her totally mixed-up emotions (mostly sexual) via non-stop debauchery not knowing the detrimental effects on her teenage son. She claims to be a free spirited rebel, but a rebel without a cause is usually a stupid person.

Pierre's character is hopelessly pitiful. He seems to be perpetually confused and is mixing spiritual thoughts with untamed instincts interspersed with acts of sheer brutality & violence. His mother's upbringing style and pseudo indoctrination isn't helping his cause either. At times, he thinks that he is God and is running crazily on the streets. Eventually, he lets his jumbled emotions get the better of him and he lands up (accidentally) killing his own mother. The last few scenes in the movie will make your stomach churn.

Science has proved that all emotions such as affection and love can be chemically isolated as chemicals and neurotransmitters. There is a deep bond between mother and her children (the isolated chemical compound that causes this bond is now known), but as sapiens with an overgrown neo-cortex, we are also blessed with the ability to rationalize and tame the animal instincts. Succumb to these instincts and we might as well retreat to the caves as the vulnerable naked ape.
April 18, 2008

'You're my mother and my love.'

"Wrong is not what we're about to do. Wrong is wanting to survive it."

There is one good reason to see Ma mère: Isabelle Huppert. Also known for her equally memorable performances in La Ceremonie, The Piano Teacher, and Gabrielle), as an actress Huppert has proven she is not afraid to take on an unconventional role. Set on the island of Gran Canaria and based on the controversial novel by French author George Bataille, Ma mère ("my mother") tells the story of an incestuous relationship between a 17-year-old boy Pierre (Louis Garrel) and his attractive mother Hélène (Isabelle Hupert). (This movie will not appeal to anyone squeamish about incest and sex scenes with violent undertones.) After leaving a Catholic boarding school, Pierre soon discovers his recently-deceased father had a fetish for pornography and his mother is a sexual libertine. Hélène not only encourages Pierre to accept her promiscuity without judgment or shame, but also encourages him explore his own sexuality without inhibitions. "The pleasure only begins once the worm is in the fruit," Helene advises her son. After Hélène arranges for Pierre to lose his virginty by having public sex with her uninhibited friend, Réa (Joana Preiss), she then urges him to participate in an orgy, where he meets his sweet but sadistic German girlfriend, Hansi (Emma de Caunes). There is only a suggestion that Hélène and Pierre engage in sex during that orgy, but Hélène abruptly distances herself from Pierre after the orgy by traveling with Réa. Upon her return, the final scenes between mother and son are anything but predictable, and the dénouement of the film's Oedipus Conflict plays out against the Turtles' song, "Happy Together" ("Imagine me and you, I do/ I think about you day and night, it's only right/ To think about the girl you love and hold her tight/ So happy together"). Ultimately the whole point of Ma mère might be best summarized in the song's chorus: "I can't see me lovin' nobody but you/ For all my life." By the end of the film Hélène becomes the full embodiment of human darkness and Pierre becomes the full embodiment of human despair. While Ma mère lacks the brilliance of Catherine Breillat's mainstream French sex provocations (Brief Crossing (Breve Traversee); Fat Girl); Anatomy of Hell; Romance), Huppert's unforgettable performance as a sexually deviant mother is fascinating, making this film worthwhile. Not surprisingly, the film has received mixed reviews. American reviewers have had a dysfunctional, love-hate relationship with Hélène's rendition of motherhood, prompting many critics to simply dismiss the entire film as "ludicrous," "dark," and "depraved." To be sure, Ma mère will make most viewers uncomfortable, leaving them pondering their own reactions to what they just witnessed, but isn't that the point of any good film?

G. Merritt January 25, 2008

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