It takes a village to raise a child. But it only takes a handful of mothers to completely unravel him. Four Mothers is Darren Thornton’s witty spin on the tug-of-war between care and self-care, obligation and escape, and guilt and love, all wrapped in dry Irish humour.
Set in suburban Ireland, Four Mothers delivers a fun, heartfelt look at what happens when family is something you never asked for but can’t walk away from.
The film centres on Edward, a queer YA author who’s finally getting his big break in the U.S., only to find his peaceful life hijacked by four older women, each louder and more complicated than the last.
First, he must care for his ailing mother, who now communicates entirely through an iPad and razor-sharp one-liners. (You wouldn’t expect a flat, robotic voice to carry such emotional weight, but it absolutely does.) Then, when his self-absorbed friends take off to Maspalomas Pride, they drop their own mothers at his doorstep. Edward becomes the reluctant host of the chaotic, matriarchal commune.
Each of the women comes with their own emotional baggage, quirks, and history, and the film gives each her moment without lingering too long.
Humour & Tone
The comedy is often dry and sometimes biting. Yes, someone really says, “Will you stop being such a cunty fuck, please?” But beneath the chaos is a tenderness that lifts it beyond farce. I’ve been hooked on Irish humour ever since Derry Girls, and Four Mothers delivered that same mix of sarcasm and soul.
The visual style shifts between handheld realism and more composed, intentional shots. It doesn’t always feel cohesive, but it reflects the film’s mood swings: from laugh-out-loud to slight sad stillness. The score doesn’t always hit the right notes, but those flaws feel forgivable.
Performances
James McArdle, as Edward, carries the film with a vulnerability that’s easy to root for. The love story between Edward and Raf adds a layer of delicious tension.
And the cast of elderly women? Absolutely endearing, and hilariously stressful. Fionnula Flanagan plays mute and delivers an entire performance through an ipad and still manages to steal scenes.
Final Thoughts
Four Mothers doesn’t build to an emotional crescendo but instead simmers with subtle truths, especially for anyone familiar with the emotional labour of caretaking; those who chronically put others before themselves.
While not every thread ties up neatly – some subplots disappear without payoff, and the tonal shifts can be abrupt – the emotions of the film remain intact. It’s not a perfect movie. But it is deeply human. Thornton doesn’t seem to be aiming for perfect structure; instead, it feels he’s capturing the messiness and the quiet compromises we make for people we love (and sometimes resent).
It’s a comedy that understands that sometimes, even kindness can wear you thin and that family is rarely neat or fair, but even then, surprisingly, it’s all that you can possibly need.
I am glad I caught Four Mothers at this year’s KASHISH Pride Film Festival. It turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly delightful films of the lineup.
