There are a lot of familiar echoes throughout the Australian-American sci-fi thriller I Am Mother, a film that patchworks tropes and ideas from elsewhere but just about crafts something worthwhile in the process. She’s raised with the knowledge that life is to be lived within these four walls, her Mother acting as parent, teacher and caregiver. Key to the success of the character of Mother is Byrne, who modulates the soft and the sinister so well that we can almost immediately understand a difficult connection. There’s also strong work from a confident Rugaard, channeling a young Natalie Portman, although the film slips up as her character progresses. I Am Mother is undoubtedly a strong calling card with plenty on its mind.

Source: The Guardian June 07, 2019 15:22 UTC