This weekend marks the opening of the new film Motherhood in five cities: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston. Shot entirely on location in New York’s West Village, this bittersweet comedy distills the dilemmas of the maternal state into the trials and tribulations of one pivotal day in the life of Eliza, a writer and mom of two, played by Uma Thurman.
The film was written and directed by Katherine Dieckmann, the acclaimed filmmaker of Diggers and A Good Baby, and was loosely based on her own experiences raising kids in Greenwich Village- the film was shot in her own building.
Dieckmann joined Suite101.com to offer the following insights into the film in her own words:
Suite101: You are a mom of two in addition to writing and directing this film, which is inspirational for women. What inspired you to create the story?
Dieckmann: I saw that there weren’t any movies made about motherhood, about the effects that marriage and children have on a woman’s soul when you’re worn down and you’re asking “Who am I?”
Suite101: In the film there are a few versions of so-called ‘perfect moms’ who contrast your main character Eliza (played by Uma Thurman), who’s in her nightgown for a school drop-off and is often harried and overwhelmed. What made you choose these other characters?
Dieckmann: It’s really a class thing. I was inspired in my own West Village neighborhood where I was seeing newer residents move in who had money and looked down on the rest of us. There’s a lot of pressure for us to be perfect mothers. It can be infuriating to be lectured to by another mother when in motherhood, there really isn’t a correct way to do anything.
Suite101: There has been a lot of publicity for the film focusing on its main celebrity actresses- Uma Thurman, Minnie Driver, a cameo by Jodie Foster. But some other actresses in the film, like Samantha Bee (from The Daily Show) and Alice Drummond (Doubt, Synecdoche) are also amazing actors. Tell us about your casting.
Dieckmann: I was very fortunate to work with a talented group of actors. Samantha Bee is hilarious and was amazing to work with- like Minnie Driver, she was pregnant during filming and she was a good sport. Alice Drummond has a lovely fragility about her. She was touching and perfect and you could really feel the way she saw another era.
Suite101: In the film, the main character is a blogger. I understand you wrote the film before momblogging had really taken off as an industry. What are your thoughts on this method of communication?
Dieckmann: What interests me is that this revolution- really, it’s a revolution- creates a way for women to have a voice that never existed before. It’s enormously positive. Motherhood is hermetic, and the work of motherhood is really drudgy. What does it mean when you’re a mom colonized by dailyness? That’s what the film addresses. You shouldn’t let motherhood suffocate you- it should not hold you back as a person.
Suite101: What is your hope for the film’s release in terms of a broader audience than the initial five cities in which it’s being released this week? What can people do to help bring the film to their city or town?
Dieckmann: It would be great during the film’s opening if moms could get a few girlfriends together and enjoy a ‘mommas night out.’ Go out and laugh and cry and drink wine together and celebrate this thing we have in common. Also, the opening weeks are for a good cause. Through November 6th, moviegoers who buy a ticket via Fandango will be donating $1 of each purchase to Susan G. Komen For The Cure to support breast cancer research.
To read more: Dieckmann wrote a piece for The Huffington Post entitled “Motherhood is not just for mothers” in which she describes her inspiration for the film.
Mary McCarthy - Mary T. McCarthy is the blogger at pajamasandcoffee.com and Editor of Chesapeake Family magazine.
