Movie Review: “Mothers’ Instinct” – A Beautiful Yet Uneven Exploration of Motherhood and Grief

Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain star in Mothers’ Instinct

In 1960 America, young John F. Kennedy campaigns for president, while next-door neighbors Alice (Jessica Chastain) and Celine (Anne Hathaway) navigate their own complex lives. Their husbands, Simon (Anders Danielsen Lie) and Damian (Josh Charles), excel at work, and their sons, Theo (Eamon O’Connell) and Max (Baylen D. Bielitz), share a close bond.

The film starts with Alice throwing a surprise party for Celine amidst discussions about Kennedy’s candidature. As the story unfolds, underlying tensions surface, particularly surrounding Celine and Damian’s struggles with conceiving a child. Alice, a former star reporter, yearns to return to work, adding to the suburban facade that all may not be perfect in their world.

A tragedy disrupts the harmony between the friends, leading to jealousy, grief, and paranoia clouding their interactions. The narrative unfolds with unreliable narrators and skewed perspectives, blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. Adapted from Barbara Abel’s novel and Olivier Masset-Depasse’s acclaimed film, Mothers’ Instinct captures the essence of emotional turmoil.

Chastain and Hathaway deliver compelling performances, portraying a range of emotions from love to rage with finesse. The film’s aesthetic, set in the ’60s, showcases the actresses in elegant attire, perfectly capturing the era’s fashion nuances.

Despite the actors’ commendable work, the script’s erratic shifts in tone may leave viewers unsettled until the final act, reminiscent of ’80s Hindi melodramas. Exploring themes of societal expectations and female empowerment, Mothers’ Instinct prompts introspection while admiring the characters’ sartorial choices.

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Mothers’ Instinct, currently screening in theaters, offers a thought-provoking tale of friendship, betrayal, and resilience.

Director and Cast of Mothers’ Instinct

The movie, directed by Benoît Delhomme, features a stellar ensemble cast including Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Josh Charles, and Anders Danielsen Lie. With a runtime of 94 minutes, the storyline revolves around the tumultuous relationship between close neighbors turned adversaries following a tragic event.

Related Articles and Resources

For more information on similar films and thematic explorations, you can visit the following websites:

1. [The Hindu – Entertainment Movies](https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies): Stay updated on the latest movie reviews and industry news.
2. [IMDb – Mothers’ Instinct](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10633332/): Explore additional details and ratings for Mothers’ Instinct on IMDb.
3. [Rotten Tomatoes – Mothers’ Instinct](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mothers_instinct): Check out audience and critic reviews for Mothers’ Instinct on Rotten Tomatoes.

By delving into the complexities of female relationships amidst personal trials and societal pressures, Mothers’ Instinct offers a compelling narrative supported by striking visuals and powerhouse performances.