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Discussion » Questions » Television and Movies » Those of you who have seen "Mother!": Did the movie provide ample evidence to conclude what it was about?
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Those of you who have seen "Mother!": Did the movie provide ample evidence to conclude what it was about?

I personally don't think so. I just finished it and initially thought it was a work of art about an author who sells out and destroys his character to appease the masses, then trashes his work because he realizes what he's done and starts again. Then I went online to confirm what I thought and realized I was totally off. Bah. Even seeing all the "clues" after the fact, I still don't think they did a good job- the details were so skewed I just don't see how anyone genuinely could have gotten the intent of the movie just by watching it. 

What say ye? Did you get the movie? If you didn't, do you think there was enough evidence to follow the underlying story? 

Posted - December 29, 2017
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Responses


  • 22891
    i havent seen it
      December 29, 2017 2:43 PM MST
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  • 2327
    I haven't watched it, and probably will not. I dislike Jennifer Lawrence. I'm afraid to say she's succumbed to the huge ego problem that comes with fame, she treats her fans terribly and she's openly proud about it. Watching her movies would pee me off. 
      December 29, 2017 9:38 PM MST
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  • 7939
    I was unaware of that. :/ For shame. 
      January 1, 2018 5:16 PM MST
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  • 551
    I don't believe there is meant to be a single definitive interpretation of it.

    The most popular explanation is that it is an ecological parable about the danger to the planet caused by uncontrolled population growth and consumption. Many people have however commented on the Biblical analogies (such as with the murder of Abel) and if we assume that Bardem's character represents God it can be seen as an anti-monotheism satire - "God" expects unconditional love and loyalty from his subjects even though he has done nothing to earn it. In some ways he doesn't seem to be like the god of the Old Testament because he doesn't set rules for the inhabitants of the house or intervene in their lives much. So perhaps it is attacking the concept of religion based on a personal god, or else saying that there really is a god but he is malevolent or indifferent. 

    They both sort of work, but whichever explanation you opt for there are events in the story that don't quite fit, so it's a bit like completing a jigsaw puzzle and having pieces left over. 

    At another level I think it is a satire about fame and celebrity.

    I think your suggestion that it about an author who sells out and destroys his character to appease the masses, then trashes his work and starts again is plausible as well.
      December 31, 2017 4:43 AM MST
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  • 7939
    Both the director, Darren Aronofsky, and Jennifer Lawrence have explained the intent of the film, so the religious aspects were intentional and they expected us to catch them. The nature aspects were intentional as well. i.e. The Arnofsky intentionally married Mother Earth/ Gaea to God as a core component of the plot. The director is an atheist (and environmentalist), so you could be accurate in his portrayal of "God" as well, and that might explain why there were puzzle pieces left over that didn't fit. He didn't follow biblical stories completely. He grabbed some inspiration from the bible, but then he threw in so much other stuff that, in my opinion, made it impossible for anyone without insider knowledge to surmise what he was trying to pull off. 

    It sounds like you saw it- did you catch those references during the movie?
      January 1, 2018 5:30 PM MST
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  • 551
    It's been a few months and I find it hard to remember all my initial reactions. I think I caught a few of the Biblical references - the murder of Abel by Cain for instance - but others I didn't notice until they were pointed out to me afterwards.
      January 2, 2018 12:53 PM MST
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