Earth Mama

Last updated

Earth Mama
Earth Mama poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Savanah Leaf
Written bySavanah Leaf
Based onThe Heart Still Hums
by Savanah Leaf
and Taylor Russell
Produced by
  • Cody Ryder
  • Shirley O’Connor
  • Medb Riordan
  • Sam Bisbee
  • Savanah Leaf
Starring
Cinematography Jody Lee Lipes
Edited byGeorge Cragg
Music by Kelsey Lu
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • A24 (United States)
  • We Are Parable [1] (United Kingdom)
Release dates
  • January 20, 2023 (2023-01-20)(Sundance)
  • July 7, 2023 (2023-07-07)(United States)
  • December 8, 2023 (2023-12-08)(United Kingdom)
Running time
101 minutes [2]
Countries
  • United States
  • United Kingdom [3]
LanguageEnglish
Box office$6,406 [4]

Earth Mama is a 2023 drama film directed and written by Savanah Leaf, based on the short film The Heart Still Hums by Leaf and Taylor Russell. [5] [3] It was released theatrically in the United States on July 7, 2023, by A24 and in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2023, by We Are Parable. [6] [7] [1] It won the Outstanding British Debut award at the 2024 BAFTAs and was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2023 by the National Board of Review. [8]

Contents

Premise

A pregnant single mother, with two children in foster care, embraces her Bay Area community as she fights to reclaim her family.

Cast

Release

Earth Mama had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023. The film was released in the United States by A24 on July 7, 2023.

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 97% of 58 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10.The website's consensus reads: "Heavy yet hopeful, Earth Mama is a moving look at single motherhood on the margins that features outstanding work from writer-director Savanah Leaf and star Tia Nomore." [10] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 84 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [11]

Ronda Racha Penrice of TheWrap praised the film, noting first-time director Savanah Leaf's "ability to transmit great emotional depth in small snapshots." [12] Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a quiet film, but it never once loosens its grip," and that it "operates on an intimate register, a level that speaks to its characters instead of about them." [13]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
British Academy Film Awards February 18, 2024 Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer Savanah Leaf, Shirley O'Connor, Medb RiordanWon [14]
British Independent Film Awards December 3, 2023 Best Lead PerformanceTia NomoreNominated [15]
Best Casting Salome Oggenfuss, Geraldine Barón, and Abby HarriNominated
Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) Savanah LeafWon
Independent Spirit Awards February 25, 2024 Best First Feature Savanah LeafNominated [16]
Best Breakthrough Performance Tia NomoreNominated
National Board of Review December 6, 2023 Top Ten Independent Films Earth MamaWon [17]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle January 9, 2024 Special Citation for Independent CinemaEarth MamaWon [18]

Related Research Articles

Savanah Leaf is a British-American film director and video artist. Earth Mama, her BAFTA-winning debut feature length film, was produced by A24 and Film4, and premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Her directorial work includes the notable single-channel video run which first exhibited at Hauser & Wirth from June 24, 2023 until August 30, 2023. Other work also includes music videos for Gary Clark, Jr.'s single This Land.

<i>Us Kids</i> 2020 film

Us Kids is a 2020 American documentary film directed by Kim A. Snyder, following members of the March for Our Lives movement after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.

<i>Found</i> (2021 film) 2021 documentary film

Found is a 2021 documentary film directed and produced by Amanda Lipitz. An international co-production of the United States and China, it follows three adopted teenage girls who discover they are blood-related cousins on 23andMe and travel to China seeking answers about their identity and family history.

<i>Civil War</i> (film) 2024 film by Alex Garland

Civil War is a 2024 dystopian action thriller film written and directed by Alex Garland, starring Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sonoya Mizuno, and Nick Offerman. The plot follows a team of war journalists traveling from New York City to Washington, D.C. during a civil war fought across the United States between a despotic federal government and secessionist movements to interview the president before rebels take the capital city.

<i>Beauty</i> (2022 film) 2022 American film

Beauty is a 2022 American drama film directed by Andrew Dosunmu from a screenplay by Lena Waithe. It premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and was released on Netflix on June 29, 2022. It stars Gracie Marie Bradley, Niecy Nash, Giancarlo Esposito, Sharon Stone, Andre Ozim, Micheal Ward, and Kyle Bary.

<i>Under the Fig Trees</i> 2021 Tunisian film

Under the Fig Trees is a 2021 Tunisian drama film directed by Erige Sehiri, starring Fidé Fdhili, Feten Fdhili, Ameni Fdhili, Samar Sifi, Leila Ouhebi, Hneya Ben Elhedi Sbahi, Gaith Mendassi, Abdelhak Mrabti, Fedi Ben Achour and Firas Amri.

<i>Mother and Son</i> (2022 film) Film by Léonor Serraille

Mother and Son is a 2022 French drama film written and directed by Léonor Serraille, starring Annabelle Lengronne, Stéphane Bak, Kenzo Sambin, Ahmed Sylla, Sidy Fofana and Milan Doucansi.

<i>The Subject</i> (2020 film) 2020 American film

The Subject is a 2020 American drama film directed by Lanie Zipoy and starring Jason Biggs, Anabelle Acosta, Nile Bullock, Caleb Eberhardt, Aunjanue Ellis, Carra Patterson and Brian McManamon. The film follows Phil Waterhouse (Biggs), a white documentary filmmaker who receives public backlash due to a film of his featuring the on-screen death of a black teen.

<i>Bruiser</i> (2022 film) 2022 American film

Bruiser is a 2022 American drama film that written by Ben Medina and Miles Warren, directed by Warren and starring Trevante Rhodes, Shamier Anderson, Jalyn Hall and Shinelle Azoroh.

<i>Prisoners Daughter</i> 2022 film by Catherine Hardwicke

Prisoner's Daughter is a 2022 American drama film directed by Catherine Hardwicke, written by Mark Bacci, and starring Kate Beckinsale and Brian Cox. The film premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, and was released in the United States on June 30, 2023, by Vertical Entertainment.

<i>Blanquita</i> 2022 Chilean film by Fernando Guzzoni

Blanquita is a 2022 internationally co-produced drama film directed by Fernando Guzzoni, starring Alejandro Goic, Amparo Noguera, Marcelo Alonso, Daniela Ramírez and Ariel Grandón. The film had its premiere on September 4, 2022 at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in the Horizon section, where it won an award for best screenplay.

<i>Rob Peace</i> 2024 American film written/directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor

Rob Peace is a 2024 American biographical drama film written and directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor and starring Ejiofor, Camila Cabello, Jay Will, and Mary J. Blige. It is based on the 2014 biography The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace by Jeff Hobbs.

<i>Sometimes I Think About Dying</i> 2023 film by Rachel Lambert

Sometimes I Think About Dying is a 2023 American romantic comedy drama film directed by Rachel Lambert, and written by Kevin Armento, Stefanie Abel Horowitz, and Katy Wright-Mead. It is based on the 2014 play Killers by Armento, and a short film that was released in 2019, directed and co-written by Horowitz. The film stars Daisy Ridley, Dave Merheje, Parvesh Cheena, Marcia DeBonis, Meg Stalter, Brittany O'Grady, and Bree Elrod.

The Line is a 2023 American drama film directed by Ethan Berger, written by Berger, Alex Russek and Zack Purdo, and starring Alex Wolff, Lewis Pullman, Halle Bailey, Austin Abrams, Angus Cloud, Bo Mitchell, Denise Richards, Cheri Oteri, Scoot McNairy and John Malkovich. This was the final film released during Cloud's lifetime before his death on July 31, 2023.

<i>Young. Wild. Free.</i> 2023 American film

Young. Wild. Free. is a 2023 American drama film written by Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, directed by Thembi Banks and starring Algee Smith. It is Banks' feature directorial debut.

<i>Babes</i> (film) 2024 film by Pamela Adlon

Babes is a 2024 American comedy film directed by Pamela Adlon, written by Ilana Glazer and Josh Rabinowitz, and starring Glazer and Michelle Buteau. It is Adlon's feature directorial debut.

<i>Ponyboi</i> 2024 American drama film

Ponyboi is a 2024 American thriller directed by Esteban Arango, from a screenplay by River Gallo. It is based upon the 2019 short film of the same name by Gallo. It stars Gallo, Dylan O'Brien, Victoria Pedretti, Murray Bartlett and Indya Moore.

Tia Nomore is an American actress and rapper. She is known for her debut leading role in the 2023 drama film, Earth Mama, for which she received positive reviews from critics and British Independent Film Awards and Independent Spirit Awards nominations.

<i>In the Summers</i> 2024 American film

In the Summers is a 2024 semi-autobiographical drama film written and directed by Alessandra Lacorazza Samudio in her feature directorial debut. The film won the Grand Jury Prize U.S. Dramatic at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

<i>Our Father, the Devil</i> 2021 thriller film

Our Father, the Devil is a 2021 American-French thriller drama film written and directed by Ellie Foumbi, in her feature film debut.

References

  1. 1 2 Dalton, Ben (October 9, 2023). "We Are Parable acquires Cannes Competition title 'Banel And Adama' for UK-Ireland". Screen International . Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Earth Mama (15)". British Board of Film Classification . November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Debruge, Peter (January 20, 2023). "'Earth Mama' Review: Savanah Leaf's Feature Debut Offers Tough but Sensitive Look at Single Mother's Struggle". Variety . Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Earth Mama (2023)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  5. ↑ Gyarkye, Lovia (January 21, 2023). "'Earth Mama' Review: A Rich and Precious Portrait of Black Motherhood". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  6. ↑ Erbland, Kate (April 18, 2023). "34 Must-See New Movies to Watch This Summer Season". IndieWire . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  7. ↑ Zilko, Christian (May 16, 2023). "'Earth Mama' Trailer: A Single Mom Fights for Survival in Savanah Leaf's Socially Conscious Sundance Hit". IndieWire . Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (December 6, 2023). "National Board of Review Names 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Best Film of 2023". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Press Notes" (PDF). A24 . Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Earth Mama". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved November 28, 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  11. ↑ "Earth Mama". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ Penrice, Ronda Racha (January 20, 2023). "Earth Mama Review: A Young, Black Mother Fights an Uncaring System for Herself and Her Family". TheWrap . Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ Gyarkye, Lovia (January 21, 2023). "'Earth Mama' Review: A Rich and Precious Portrait of Black Motherhood". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Nominations Announced for the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards". BAFTAS . January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  15. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (December 3, 2023). "'All of Us Strangers' Triumphs at British Independent Film Awards With Seven Wins". Variety . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ Blauvelt, Christian (December 5, 2023). "'American Fiction,' 'May December,' 'Past Lives' Lead 2024 Indie Spirits Noms". IndieWire . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  17. ↑ Davis, Clayton (December 6, 2023). "'Killers of the Flower Moon' Named Best Picture by National Board of Review, Lily Gladstone and Paul Giamatti Nab Top Acting Honors". Variety . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  18. ↑ "SFBAFCC 2023 AWARDS". San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle . Retrieved January 19, 2024.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.