Review: Be honest, Motherland sounds like another sappy, depressing quest to film some stranger’s inner demons. And its set in South Africa? Great, multiply all those factors by 12. What else could this documentary possibly offer… Even if you enter this documentary with that mindset, you’ll most likely end it with a tears strolling down your face and a sense of peace about you. Motherland is one of those few documentaries (correction, movies) that slyly find away to tug at the very vault of emotions every human has locked away. Whatever the reason, whatever the scar, whatever the sorrow, somehow Jennifer Steinman’s film hits you directly. Never before have I sat in a theater and heard so many people outright sobbing throughout. But this isn’t a depressing film. Ok, it is, but it isn’t all tears and sorrow either. There are some great moments and you’ll find yourself laughing or ‘aww’-ing at various points. For whatever reason, Motherland just clicks. Even the single, 20-something men will find it hard not to reflect on sorrows or fears. But it doesn’t end with sorrow. No, Steinman brings the mothers, as well as the audience, full circle and by the time the trip ends, there is a sense of peace. Not joy, but peace- as if one has just been purged of some inner waste that needed to be flushed. The best part about all of it is the entire absence of a sappy endings. The women don’t leave with giant grins on their faces, but they do leave knowing there are others who share their pain and are willing to help them through their grief. No, it is not a perfect film, and in many ways is a very basic documentary. The narration isn’t always the best, the camerawork is simple and the story stumbles off the blocks. But, half way through and all these little details fall to the way side. Steinman does one thing perfectly: she gets out of the way and lets the documentary develop itself. It will take a lot of convincing to actually sit down and watch Motherland, but if you give it a shot, you won’t be disappointed. A word of advice though, give yourself time to reflect afterwards, because a film that runs you through the gauntlet of emotions needs time to breathe when it is all finished. Review by Matthew Abshire Informative: 4- each character’s personality, emotions and wounds are laid bare in a beautiful and power manner Entertainment: 5- by running its audience through the entire gamut of emotions, this becomes a story you can’t pull away from Technical: 3- its basic, but that’s all it needs to be Overall: 4- few movies scratch at the calloused wounds of the heart like this one
Motherland
Format: Theater Year: 2009 Running Time: 80 Min Distributor: Mercury Media International Producer: Jennifer Steinman and Anne Magill Director: Jennifer Steinman Date Reviewed: 5-4-2009 Story: Six women, who have all suffered the death of a child, set out on a mission to help poor children in rural South Africa. As they interact with kids and share their feelings with each other, the women begin to discover hope and experience healing. This character-driven documentary profiles the compelling stories of paramedic Debbi, actress Helena, volunteer Anne, suburban mom Kathy, nursing student Barbara and college student Lauren (NetFlix).