Where I Watched It: Paramount Plus (with Showtime)
English Audio Description?: Yes
Cast: Tia Nomore, Erika Alexander, and Bokeem Woodbine.
Written and Directed By: Savanah Leaf
Two very different stories about impoverished mothers trying to care for their child in seemingly impossible circumstances opened this past year, and A Thousand and One really took up the space in that conversation. But, despite the terrific performance of Tiana Taylor, the ending of that film makes it truly tough to use as a benchmark where it seems it wants to land. However, Earth Mama has a different approach, as no two stories are ever truly alike, and yet another impressive breakthrough performance.
Tia Nomore plays a mother trying to regain custody of her child in a system that seems designed for her to fall short. At the beginning, we don’t know why she’s separated from her child, much like the premise of the like minded A Thousand and one. instead of it being about the past these women have been through, the film really is about their future. Or, at least the dream of obtaining a future.
while Taylor is delivering a performance, it always feels like you are watching a movie. Even though I was incredibly moved by her role, I was always aware that Taylor was acting, and just good at it. it reminded me of being blown away by the range Monique showed in a similar role in Precious. With Tia Nomore, in her debut film role, there’s no polish here. For some, that will turn them off, and for others it gives you the sense that this might actually be her life. Like, either they found a real person with an incredibly similar life experience willing to share that role with the world, or we’ve dropped in documentary style. if it weren’t for the presence of a few recognizable actors, like Alexander (who is also terrific in this year’s American Fiction), we could almost feel that gritty first feature work with unknown talents that seems to blur the line between fantasy and fiction.
As an example, America Ferrera’s debut in Real Women Have Curves has this feel, as does Michelle Rodriguez’s Girlfight. Taylor’s performance is given a harshness and a depth toward the end that is captivating, but Nomore feels like she’s really trying to get her child back.
It’s one of those early in the year independent drops that just fails to get noticed. it always amazes me how a small film can catch the right wave of attention, and suddenly everyone has heard of Past Lives but not Earth Mama. Mama is likely just defeated by the presence of an incredible similar movie, and a lack of word of mouth, but not from any real thing it does wrong.
Thankfully, this has audio description, which is a huge boon not just for independent film, or for fresh voices, but also representation, and continued diversity in the content that is audio described. By choosing to continue to support independent film from emerging filmmakers By providing them with full accessibility to their audience, we continue to challenge the idea that the mainstream is the only place where accessibility is needed, instead putting a light on films with unknown directors, and unknown leads. Hopefully, this trend can also extend to a greater number of international films also being released in the states with audio description, and a renewed push for a broader reach as no size fits all. It’s hard to predict the accessibility needs by generalizing, because we all come from different experiences, and there are people who will love seeing content like Earth Mama receiving audio description.
An admirable and solid debut from Nomore, which sadly might have stood out a little bit more if it had been able to distance itself from A Thousand And One.
Final Grade: A-
