Four Mothers (2025)

Darren Thornton's Four Mothers, is a frankly ludicrous film in terms of its premise. James McArdle is Edward, a thirty something gay novelist who has just released a hotly tipped coming-of-age story, and is being urged to travel to America by his publicist for a promotional book tour. However, Edward lives with and cares for his elderly mother, who after a stroke has lost the use of her voice and must use a pad proclaim what she wants to say, and needs constant care and attention.

For Edward, the book tour seems a pipeline dream in compared to his actual reality, and his situation is complicated when three of his closest friends decide to take a weekend break to Gran Canaria for Maspalomas Pride- and dump their own mams in Edward's living room while he's out. And so, the set up is complete, and off we go.

Edward is a doormat, we're aware of that almost instantly, and clearly has baggage from being brought up in Catholic Ireland as a young gay man, combined with his parent's marital troubles. As he keeps telling his mum Alma, his Dad could be particularly unpleasant- but after he passed away (with Edward having cared for him too) his mum has chosen to have a very selective memory of the past.

What is interesting about Four Mothers is the crux of Edwards issues. His ex-boyfriend is at the house everyday helping him to care for Alma, and continues to do so after Edward is lumbered with an extra three old ladies to care for for the weekend; they clearly get on very well but there's undoubtedly lingering feelings from Edward, and it's unsurprising when we learn he was the reason the pair split up, for varying reasons.

We sympathise with Edward; growing up in such an atmosphere when Catholic Ireland very much took a stance of 'just get on with it, it's God's will'- unless of course it was something that went against God- like being gay for example. Edward struggles with his phone interviews to radio shows to promote his book, insisting on prioritising how his novel subtly addresses colonialism and oppression in Ireland- when the majority just want to hear how it's a great love story. It's almost like Edward wants to express his problems through his work but people aren't interested in hearing about the reality of the situation, they just want the escapism.

Certainly that's true of Ireland as a country. After centuries of Catholic rule, it now seems, in some ways, to be approaching the total opposite of such a rule. Which can bring many positives- but undoubtedly has its negatives too. Four Mothers could have done with a bit more unpacking of Edward's story itself- McArdle sells the character well, but the film's opening half hour is very uneven, crow-barring in ludicrous plot points to get to the film's forward narrative.

It would also have been interesting to see characters- at any point- who are opposed to the way Edward and his friends live their lives, especially in (certainly what used to be) a Catholic country. Instead, we only see one side of the fence, and although we hear Edward briefly let himself go and open up- we never really fully appreciate how tough it must have been for gay people in Ireland over the last century.

Once the film settles into a rhythm of Edward hanging out with the old women, taking them on a road-trip to Galway, and gradually enjoying himself, Four Mothers hits its stride. Certainly in its second half, there are some amusing, touching, and heartfelt moments. But to root for these characters even more, we need to have seen more of the tough times, not simply have to assume them.

It's an Irish production, which is always something to celebrate just for the fact they're getting wider releases- and despite the fact Four Mothers is a comedy, it's important we don't lose sight of how Ireland got here as a country. Thornton's film is uneven with an unconvincing set up, but thankfully its second half has charm to spare- helped by a rather excellent cast. 6.7/10