mother!

There are many ways to tell a story, and stories can be allegorical, sure; but with the allegorical you can end up with a story that lacks internal logic. Characters might not follow any meaningful rules, instead being guided by a narrative outside of the story being told. Often they act completely out of character, and the only explanation we are given is that it is 'allegory'. This is the case with Aronofsky's mother!

Allegory isn't necessarily a problem in storytelling, but if the viewer/reader is not aware of what being referenced the story can be perceived as confusing or unrealistic. If you were to watch mother! and not understand the (frankly glaringly obvious) references to Judaeo-Christian lore, the film would not make sense. You would end up with a story that is more surreal than anything else, something nonsensical in which the characters don't react to the events that have come before, who don't learn, who don't develop.

Jennifer Lawrence plays a 'Mother Earth' character, and the film seems to be a telling of the creation of the Earth from Mother Earth's perspective. The man character (Him) comes across as selfish, petty, childish, thoughtless, ignorant, stupid … but he writes beautiful poetry, so that's OK.

The film seems to be an exercise in torturing a woman character, all with an Ah-But-There's-A-Reason get-out clause. I'm not sure how well versed Aronofsky is on religion. The telling of the world's creation from a woman's view is an interesting idea, but we know Mother Earth/Mother Nature does not feature in the bible and there is something distinctly flawed about trying to tell the story via Judaeo-Christian patriarchy.

Lawrence's character is also the virgin Mary, and the son of God very briefly features in this film. However, Jesus is not given any time to teach his ways, and nor does the film reflect upon the Christian theology that Jesus and God are the same person – which means the character in the film is married to his own mother. (?)

The story becomes more extreme as it progresses, but without the allusion to religious narratives you are left with a story that is just ridiculous. In fact it is a story that does not make sense.

The premise of the film is compelling and the film begins very well: in a remote house the husband lets a strange man stay without asking his wife first. You then have the tension between the married couple and the tension between the couple and the stranger in their house.

It's an interesting idea. It is such a shame this film became what it did.

Over and out for now, guys!

xxx