Sunday 7 April 2024 3:30 pm
Rainbow Cinemas, Northumberland Mall
Young Elsie is surprised by her eccentric mother's last wishes that her ashes be distributed amongst her five ex-husbands to scatter in a place most significant to each of them and is determined to honour her mother's memory. But the trip profoundly changes her trajectory.
- Cast: Léane Labrèche-Dor, Jean-Simon Leduc, Marc Messier
- Director: Anik Jean
- Genre: Drama
- Original Language: French (Canada)
- Writer: Maryse Latendresse
- Runtime: 2h 6m
- Content advisory: Drug and alcohol use, coarse language
Review (TIFF)
My Mother’s Men, Anik Jean’s heartening feature film debut, delves into the curious and poignant world of familial eccentricity, personal growth, and unorthodox last wishes.
At its core lies the story of Elsie (Léane Labrèche-Dor), a 30-something young woman navigating the peculiar legacy left by her mother, Anne, a whimsical soul with an affinity for romance. Anne’s final request of Elsie is far from ordinary: she tasks her daughter with tracking down her five ex-husbands to help scatter her ashes.
Elsie is determined to honour her mother’s memory, even if it means confronting her personal feelings and issues head on. Elsie embarks on a remarkable journey that unravels the intricacies of her family’s past and reshapes her life’s course. What ensues is a touching exploration of love, connection, and the indelible impact of the relationships that define us.
Anik Jean, who was moved to make the film after the death of her father, masterfully navigates the emotional terrain of Elsie’s story and her unconventional family. Bolstered by a fantastic ensemble cast, featuring Quebecois legend Marc Messier and Bon Cop, Bad Cop co-stars Patrick Huard and Colm Feore, Elsie’s transformative journey is a testament to the profound influence of the people we encounter in life — a poignant tale told with a lot of heart and tenderness.