Directed by: Benoît Delhomme|
Distributed by: Neon
Written by Taylor Baker
54/100
“Mothers’ Instinct” is a remake of a 2018 French film of the same name. It sees two families in an idyllic American suburb in the 50s living side by side grapple with grief and responsibility. Celine (Anne Hathaway) and Alice (Jessica Chastain) are great friends, their sons Max and Theo are childhood best friends, viewing the others home and family as an extension of their own. Benoît Delhomme’s directorial debut explores doubt and fear, though it gives a fairly equal account to the experience of both leads it does center on Alice’s experience, which oscillates between feeling like something happening around her is off and her being outright gaslit.
Despite some histrionic over performative moments, when Hathaway and Chastain are able to embody their characters pain and exchange dialogue blows the film is enticing. Though it has multiple locations it operates and feels like a chamber piece. One can’t help but wonder the heights a film would reach with the same themes and casting but a tighter narrative. Known for his cinematography work, Delhomme who serves as cinematographer as well as director here avoids striking visual choice and opts for familiar patinas and frames, and lets his stars do the heavy lifting. There’s certainly something to appreciate, though one senses this film reads better off the page than it does witnessed on the screen.
“Mothers’ Instinct” Trailer
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