
Is My Dear Mother Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2019)
My Dear Mother is about the 15-year-old girl Dasha who lives in an orphanage in a small town in Russia. We follow her for five years, in all the thoughts she has about growing up in orphanages. She wonders why her mother left her. Until her grandmother died, she lived with her grandparents, who were Russian Sami. Dasha's father is in jail and her mother was a drug addict. Dasha would like to have contact with her roots and she wants to keep her Sami identity.
✨ The Quick Verdict
If you are a fan of Documentary cinema, then My Dear Mother offers a standard experience that justifies its existence in the 2019 landscape.
👥 Target Audience
📔 Detailed Analysis
The Narrative Arc & Core Premise
Debuting in 2019, My Dear Mother represents a sophisticated intersection of artistic ambition and genre-defining elements within the Documentary category. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into My Dear Mother is about the 15-year-old girl Dasha who lives in an orphanage in a small town in Russia. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Documentary are tested.
The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "My Dear Mother is about the 15-year-old girl Dasha who lives in an orphanage in a small town in Russia. We follow her for five years, in all the thoughts she has about growing up in orphanages. She wonders why her mother left her. Until her grandmother died, she lived with her grandparents, who were Russian Sami. Dasha's father is in jail and her mother was a drug addict. Dasha would like to have contact with her roots and she wants to keep her Sami identity."
Artistic Execution & Performance Study
A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. The presence of Dasha Matrekhina provides a necessary level of professionalism to the production, even when the underlying script struggles to maintain a consistent tone. It is a testament to their skill that they remain the most engaging element of the film.
The direction by Paul-Anders Simma is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 83 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.
Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch
Is My Dear Mother truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Documentary, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.
The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.
Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision
At a deeper level, My Dear Mother explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2019 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Paul-Anders Simma respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.
The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.
Final Editorial Recommendation
Ultimately, My Dear Mother is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Dasha Matrekhina or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, My Dear Mother is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.
⏳ Time Investment
At approximately 1.4 hours, the film requires a standard time commitment.