by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Who doesn’t love some good ole British entertainment? The dryness and properness. The passive aggressiveness and stiff upper lips. Mothering Sunday, the new period romance coming from director Eva Husson, just might be the most British thing you ever watch. Heck… it even has Colin Firth in it. Oh… and Olivia Colman too. But what makes it stand out the most is the unrelenting urge to show off interclass affairs. What might be most shocking is the amount of raw nudity that parades across the screen. But this is all quite the combination that comes together to create Mothering Sunday.
After plenty of build… what is this romance even about? Jane Fairchild (Odessa Young) is one of the maids for the Niven family (Firth and Colman… but we will get to them later). But she certainly loves Mr. Paul Sheringham (someone who is of much class, played by Josh O’Connor). They have a torrid affair with all the intimacy. I never thought I would see so much nudity going into a “prim and proper British romance,” but Mothering Sunday never shies away. But if one affair wasn’t enough… there is another! In a different time, Jane is having an affair with a Black man (not exactly the most acceptable during this period). Well, something obviously doesn’t work out for the first one, does it? Let’s line up with some expectations for you: this is not one of those happy and hopeful romances. But it does offer up plenty of pillow talk (or one person in bed and the other standing with it all hanging out).
What about the direction that Husson brings to the table? One thing is for certain — this is a beautiful looking film thanks to the tenderness of the camera and how it captures the tiny details of the lighting. Whether they are small streams of light across Jane’s face in bed, or a plethora of other highlights, they just pop off screen. Composer Morgan Kibby offers up quite the memorable score to complement the film as well. But there is one serious problem. This… is… boring. Not the whole film, but there are plenty of points. The energy just isn’t there. There is plenty of emotion, but it just doesn’t keep a spark along the way.
But how does this talented cast handle this romance? Young has plenty to handle in the role of Jane. She must have compelling connections with two different men, balance a lot of emotional interactions with characters, have consistent believable pillow talk, and be comfortable in her own skin as she is nude… a lot. Similarly, O’Connor also must show off plenty of intimacy. Firth and Colman offer up two emotionally charged, yet completely opposite performances that are both equally as compelling. Firth is a bit of a mild-mannered rambler, while Colman is a silent and brooding presence ready to burst.
Will this romance capture your imagination? It might not do that… but it does offer up a decent amount of emotion and drama along the way. The nonlinear story is scattered and creates a choppy experience, but the actors are able to shine their emotions through. Don’t go looking for a fun romance. That is not Mothering Sunday. But there is enough here to compel some of the audience out there.
Score: 7/10
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