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Movies/Scenes
Representing
Mother Types
 | Erin Brockovich (2000)
 | "Erin Brockovich" is essentially a film about
empowerment. A mother of three children is unemployed and has no source
of income. She decides that she has to find a job at all costs. In her
work at a small law firm, she discovers that she has very little respect
from the other employees. She comes to believe that the women of the
firm are jealous of her physical attributes when she is asked to change
to more appropriate work clothing. She dreams of one day having a job
where she is respected for what she brings to her position. She dreams
of being viewed as a person of integrity. As the story unfolds, Erin
develops a friendship with her boss that only strengthens with time
because of her hard work and determination to do a good job. He strongly
affirms Erin with several votes of confidence. As Erin works on her
case, she receives acceptance from her co-workers gradually and also
from those whom she wants to sign the petition. She also is required to
show some great courage when she receives some threats to her family.
Her case in a small California town that is plagued by bad water
requires endurance from her and from her children and
boyfriend/neighbor. The film depicts a journey of self-discovery for
Erin. She finds that there are many obstacles that she must overcome,
including dealing with the tension of not being with her children as
much as she would like when she is working on her project for the town.
The tension between working and not working is a strong one for Erin,
who does not have the benefits of child support for her three children.
As she gains the trust of the town, a sense of community between these
people develops. They begin to understand that all of their medical
problems are interconnected and that by joining together as one
community they have a greater chance of achieving their goals. At the
end of the film, Erin shows great joy at her accomplishments as a
person in the working world (not to give away the ending). (submitted by
Valerie Lyson Humphreys, Independence MO) |
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| The Phantom Menace
(1999)
| Shmi Skywalker as the
strong, encouraging mother who understands her son's identity and path. |
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| Double Jeopardy (1999)
| Libby is willing to risk her freedom and her life for
the chance to be reunited with her son. Her love for him is her
motivator. |
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| Angela's Ashes (1999)
| Angela's courage as she leaves depression and learns to
stand for her family. |
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| Beloved
(1998)
| Sethe as the courageous, broken
woman who kills her child rather than have her grow up a slave,
establishes life as a free woman with her other children, comes to terms
with her brokenness and her community. |
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| The Stand
(1994)
| Mother Abigail welcomes and feeds her visitors, shares
her wisdom and compassion. |
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| The Prince of Tides
(1991)
| The mother tries to bring imagination and beauty into
her children's lives. In one scene, she sits on the end of a pier
with them, watching the sun go down. Finally, one of the children
says in hushed tones, "Do it again. Mama." (submitted by FUMC,
Natchitoches, LA) |
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| My
Left Foot (1989)
| Christy's mother is determined,
wise, willful and kind. She has faith in Christy. "It's in here
(points to heart) that battles are won. Not in the pub. Even if
you've given up, I haven't." Begins building a room for
Christy. (DVD chapter 12) |
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| Overboard (1987)
| Joanna, the spoiled rich lady, owes money to Dean, a
carpenter, and refuses to pay. When he finds her suffering from
amnesia, he convinces her that she is his wife, and the mother of his
children. The scene in which he leaves her with a list of daily
chores, up to the point where she sits in a dazed stupor while the
children try to throw grapes into her mouth is a funny look at how we
sometimes view motherhood. The point can be made that she does
indeed become the children's mother, which is not about housework, but
rather the love and nurture she gives them. (submitted by FUMC,
Natchitoches, LA) |
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| Places
in the Heart (1984)
| Edna's courage and
determination to help her family survive and keep them together. Her
desire to protect those within her community/family. |
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| Psycho (1960)
| "A boy's best friend is his mother." :-) |
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Index of Movie Titles
Index of Movie Themes
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