Mother, Couch

Last updated

Mother, Couch
Mother Couch poster.jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNiclas Larsson
Written byNiclas Larsson
Based onMamma i soffa
by Jerker Virdborg
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyChayse Irvin
Edited byCarla Luffe
Music by Christopher Bear
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 9, 2023 (2023-09-09)(TIFF)
  • July 5, 2024 (2024-07-05)(United States)
Running time
96 minutes [1]
Countries
  • United States
  • Denmark
  • Sweden
LanguageEnglish
Box office$18,961 [2]

Mother, Couch is a 2023 comedy-drama film written and directed by Niclas Larsson. It is based on the 2020 Swedish novel Mamma i soffa by Jerker Virdborg. It stars Ewan McGregor, Rhys Ifans, Taylor Russell, Lara Flynn Boyle, Lake Bell, F. Murray Abraham, and Ellen Burstyn.

Contents

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023. It was released in the United States by Film Movement and Memory on July 5, 2024.

Premise

While attempting to leave a furniture store, an elderly matriarch suddenly decides to sit on one of the couches and stay there. Her three children come together, as well as the store owners, who all go through a mind-bending journey of self-discovery.

Cast

Production

In July 2022, it was reported that Ellen Burstyn, Ewan McGregor, Taylor Russell, Rhys Ifans, Lara Flynn Boyle, Lake Bell, and F. Murray Abraham had signed on to star in Mother, Couch. Written and directed by Niclas Larsson in his feature film debut, it is an adaptation of the 2020 Swedish novel Mamma i soffa by Jerker Virdborg. [4] Larsson said in an interview: "The book is very different from the film. In fact, the first thing I asked Jerker was how free I could be with the adaptation, and he said, 'Look, steal whatever you want to steal, and go with it.' So that's what I did. I added the locations and set it in America, but I feel it's also very Swedish." [4]

The film was produced by the American-based companies Lyrical Media, Fat City, and Suris/Bishop Films and co-produced by Sweden's Film i Väst and Denmark's Snowglobe. [5] Principal photography began in late October 2022 and took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, over 27 days, primarily on a stage. [6] [4] The production was granted a tax rebate of up to $1.75 million by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. [6]

Release

Mother, Couch, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023. [7] [1] It later screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival on September 26. [8] [9] In February 2024, Film Movement and Memory acquired US distribution rights to the film. [10] It was released in the United States on July 5, 2024. [11] [12]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 39% of 44 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.4/10. [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>Trainspotting</i> (film) 1996 film by Danny Boyle

Trainspotting is a 1996 British black comedy-drama film directed by Danny Boyle, and starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle and Kelly Macdonald in her film debut. Based on the 1993 novel of the same title by Irvine Welsh, the film was released in the United Kingdom on 23 February 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">F. Murray Abraham</span> American actor (b. 1939)

F. Murray Abraham is an American actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he has received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for a BAFTA Award, four Emmy Awards, and a Grammy Award. He came to prominence for his portrayal of Antonio Salieri in the drama film Amadeus (1984) for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen Burstyn</span> American actress (born 1932)

Ellen Burstyn is an American actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women in dramas, she is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards, making her one of the few performers to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting". She has also received a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award.

<i>Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore</i> 1974 film directed by Martin Scorsese

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is a 1974 American romantic comedy drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Robert Getchell. It stars Ellen Burstyn as a widow who travels with her preteen son across the Southwestern United States in search of a better life. Kris Kristofferson, Billy "Green" Bush, Diane Ladd, Valerie Curtin, Lelia Goldoni, Vic Tayback, Jodie Foster, Alfred Lutter, and Harvey Keitel appear in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lara Flynn Boyle</span> American actress (born 1970)

Lara Flynn Boyle is an American actress. She is known for playing Donna Hayward in the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991). After appearing in Penelope Spheeris's comedy Wayne's World (1992), Boyle had a lead role in John Dahl's neo-noir film Red Rock West (1993), followed by roles in Threesome (1994), Cafe Society (1995), Happiness (1998), and the villainous Serleena in Men in Black II (2002). From 1997 to 2003, she starred in the ABC series The Practice, for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

<i>Afterglow</i> (1997 film) 1997 American film

Afterglow is a 1997 American comedy-drama film directed and written by Alan Rudolph and starring Nick Nolte, Julie Christie, Lara Flynn Boyle and Jonny Lee Miller. It was produced by Robert Altman and filmed in Montreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys Ifans</span> Welsh actor (born 1967)

Rhys Owain Evans, better known as Rhys Ifans, is a Welsh actor. He is best known for his roles in Notting Hill (1999), Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000), and Enduring Love (2004) as well as his portrayals of Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), and Grigori Rasputin in The King's Man (2021). Other roles include Hector DeJean in the Epix thriller series Berlin Station, Mycroft Holmes in the CBS series Elementary, and Ser Otto Hightower in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noah Baumbach</span> American filmmaker (born 1969)

Noah Baumbach is an American filmmaker. He is known for making comedies set in New York City and his works are inspired by filmmakers such as Woody Allen and Whit Stillman. His frequent collaborators include Wes Anderson, Adam Driver, and his wife, Greta Gerwig.

<i>Nora</i> (2000 film) 2000 German film

Nora is a 2000 film directed by Pat Murphy about Nora Barnacle and her husband, Irish author James Joyce. It stars Ewan McGregor as Joyce and Susan Lynch in the title role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Rhys</span> Welsh actor (born 1974)

Matthew Rhys Evans is a Welsh actor. He gained recognition for playing Kevin Walker in the family drama series Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011) and Philip Jennings in the spy drama series The Americans (2013–2018), the latter of which earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2018. He was Emmy-nominated for his guest role in Girls (2017) and for playing the title role in the period series Perry Mason (2020–2023).

<i>How I Got into College</i> 1989 film by Savage Steve Holland

How I Got Into College is a 1989 American romantic comedy film directed by Savage Steve Holland, starring Anthony Edwards, Corey Parker and Lara Flynn Boyle, and produced and released by 20th Century Fox. This is the film debut of eventual voice actor Tom Kenny, who would become best known as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ewan McGregor</span> Scottish actor (born 1971)

Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. His accolades include a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2013, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama and charity.

<i>Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang</i> 2010 British film

Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang is a 2010 period fantasy comedy film directed by Susanna White, produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Lindsay Doran with music by James Newton Howard and co-produced by StudioCanal, Relativity Media, Working Title Films and Three Strange Angels. It is a sequel to the 2005 film Nanny McPhee. It was written by Emma Thompson, based on Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda books. Thompson reprises her role as Nanny McPhee, and the film also stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ralph Fiennes, Rhys Ifans, Ewan McGregor, Asa Butterfield and Maggie Smith. The film was theatrically released on 20 August 2010 by Universal Pictures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ewan McGregor filmography</span>

Ewan McGregor made his acting debut in 1993 in the British television series Lipstick on Your Collar. He followed this one year later by appearing in Bill Forsyth's Being Human and Danny Boyle's thriller Shallow Grave. Two years later, he played heroin addict Mark Renton in Danny Boyle's Trainspotting which won him international recognition.

<i>T2 Trainspotting</i> 2017 British film by Danny Boyle

T2 Trainspotting is a 2017 British black comedy drama film, directed by Danny Boyle and written by John Hodge. Set in and around Edinburgh, Scotland, it is based on characters created by Irvine Welsh in his 1993 novel Trainspotting and its 2002 follow-up Porno. A sequel to Boyle's 1996 film Trainspotting, T2 stars the original ensemble cast, including leads Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, and Robert Carlyle, with Shirley Henderson, James Cosmo, and Kelly Macdonald. The film features a new character, Veronika, played by Anjela Nedyalkova, and includes clips, music, and archive sound from the first film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Russell</span> Canadian actress (born 1994)

Taylor Russell McKenzie is a Canadian actress and model. After playing a number of minor roles, Russell received recognition for starring in the Netflix science fiction series Lost in Space (2018–2021). She rose to prominence for appearing in the drama film Waves (2019), and the horror film Escape Room (2019) and its 2021 sequel. For starring in the road film Bones and All (2022), she won the Marcello Mastroianni Award among other accolades. She performed onstage in the play The Effect.

Hidden is a Welsh television drama serial, created by Mark Andrew and Ed Talfan. It was initially broadcast in Welsh on the Welsh-language channel S4C under its Welsh name Craith. The bilingual version of the series, under the English name Hidden, was broadcast on BBC One Wales and BBC Four. The Welsh-language versions of the first two series aired on S4C in 2018 and 2019, respectively, with the third and final series beginning on 10 October 2021. The English-language version of the third and final series aired in April 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius Avery</span> Australian film director

Julius Avery is an Australian filmmaker. His credits include Son of a Gun (2014), Overlord (2018) and The Pope's Exorcist (2023).

<i>The Exorcist: Believer</i> 2023 film by David Gordon Green

The Exorcist: Believer is a 2023 American supernatural horror film directed by David Gordon Green, who co-wrote the screenplay with Peter Sattler from a story by Scott Teems, Danny McBride, and Green. The sixth installment in The Exorcist franchise, it serves as a direct sequel to The Exorcist (1973). The film stars Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O‘Neill in her film debut, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, and Ann Dowd. Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair reprise their roles from the original film. Its plot follows a photographer who must confront the nadir of evil when his daughter and her best friend are possessed.

Lyrical Media is an American independent film production company. The company is best known for producing films Bruiser (2022), How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022), and Mother, Couch (2023).

References

  1. 1 2 "Mother, Couch". Toronto International Film Festival . Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Mother, Couch". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Mother, Couch" (PDF). Charades. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Ntim, Zac (September 8, 2023). "Mother, Couch: Sara Murphy & Niclas Larsson Discuss Their Secretive TIFF Competition Title Starring Ewan McGregor And Taylor Russell". Deadline. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  5. ↑ Hopewell, John (July 31, 2022). "Charades, UTA Board 'Mother, Couch' With Taylor Russell, Ewan McGregor (Exclusive)". Variety . Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Shiff, Blair (October 25, 2022). "This indie film is going to shoot in Charlotte this week". WCNC-TV . Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  7. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 24, 2023). "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders Dumb Money, The Holdovers, Rustin; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  8. ↑ Ntim, Zac (July 27, 2023). "Mother, Couch! Starring Taylor Russell & Ewan McGregor Among Titles Set For San Sebastian's New Directors Competition". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Mother, Couch!". San Sebastián International Film Festival . Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  10. ↑ Ritman, Alex (February 14, 2024). "Ewan McGregor-Starring Mother, Couch! Lands U.S. Distribution (Exclusive)". Variety . Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Mother Couch". Film Movement . Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  12. ↑ McArdle, Tommy (May 10, 2024). "Ewan McGregor and Ellen Burstyn's Mother, Couch Trailer Teases a Wild Family Feud (Exclusive)". People . Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Mother, Couch". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved July 17, 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.