Earth Mama is a 2023 drama film directed and written by Savanah Leaf, based on the short film The Heart Still Hums by Leaf and Taylor Russell.[5][3] It was released theatrically in the United States on July 7, 2023, by A24 and in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2023, by We Are Parable.[6][7][1] It won the Outstanding British Debut award at the 2024 BAFTAs and was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2023 by the National Board of Review.[8]
| Earth Mama | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Savanah Leaf |
| Written by | Savanah Leaf |
| Based on | The Heart Still Hums by Savanah Leaf and Taylor Russell |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jody Lee Lipes |
| Edited by | George Cragg |
| Music by | Kelsey Lu |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 101 minutes[2] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Box office | $6,406[4] |
Premise
editA pregnant single mother, with two children in foster care, embraces her Bay Area community as she fights to reclaim her family.
Cast
edit- Tia Nomore as Gia[9]
- Erika Alexander as Miss Carmen[9]
- Keta Price as Mel[9]
- Doechii as Trina[9]
- Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Monica[9]
- Bokeem Woodbine as Paul[9]
- Olivia Luccardi as Alexis[9]
- Dominic Fike as Miles[9]
Release
editEarth Mama had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023. The film was released in the United States by A24 on July 7, 2023.
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 58 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Heavy yet hopeful, Earth Mama is a moving look at single motherhood on the margins that features outstanding work from writer-director Savanah Leaf and star Tia Nomore."[10] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 84 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[11]
Ronda Racha Penrice of TheWrap praised the film, noting first-time director Savanah Leaf's "ability to transmit great emotional depth in small snapshots."[12] Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a quiet film, but it never once loosens its grip," and that it "operates on an intimate register, a level that speaks to its characters instead of about them."[13]
Accolades
edit| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Academy Film Awards | February 18, 2024 | Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer | Savanah Leaf, Shirley O'Connor, Medb Riordan | Won | [14] |
| British Independent Film Awards | December 3, 2023 | Best Lead Performance | Tia Nomore | Nominated | [15] |
| Best Casting | Salome Oggenfuss, Geraldine Barón, and Abby Harri | Nominated | |||
| Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) | Savanah Leaf | Won | |||
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 25, 2024 | Best First Feature | Savanah Leaf | Nominated | [16] |
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Tia Nomore | Nominated | |||
| National Board of Review | December 6, 2023 | Top Ten Independent Films | Earth Mama | Won | [17] |
| San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle | January 9, 2024 | Special Citation for Independent Cinema | Earth Mama | Won | [18] |
References
edit- ^ a b Dalton, Ben (October 9, 2023). "We Are Parable acquires Cannes Competition title 'Banel And Adama' for UK-Ireland". Screen International. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ "Earth Mama (15)". British Board of Film Classification. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ a b Debruge, Peter (January 20, 2023). "'Earth Mama' Review: Savanah Leaf's Feature Debut Offers Tough but Sensitive Look at Single Mother's Struggle". Variety. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ "Earth Mama (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ Gyarkye, Lovia (January 21, 2023). "'Earth Mama' Review: A Rich and Precious Portrait of Black Motherhood". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Erbland, Kate (April 18, 2023). "34 Must-See New Movies to Watch This Summer Season". IndieWire. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ Zilko, Christian (May 16, 2023). "'Earth Mama' Trailer: A Single Mom Fights for Survival in Savanah Leaf's Socially Conscious Sundance Hit". IndieWire. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (December 6, 2023). "National Board of Review Names 'Killers of the Flower Moon' Best Film of 2023". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Press Notes" (PDF). A24. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
- ^ "Earth Mama". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
- ^ "Earth Mama". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ Penrice, Ronda Racha (January 20, 2023). "Earth Mama Review: A Young, Black Mother Fights an Uncaring System for Herself and Her Family". TheWrap. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ Gyarkye, Lovia (January 21, 2023). "'Earth Mama' Review: A Rich and Precious Portrait of Black Motherhood". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Nominations Announced for the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards". BAFTAS. January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (December 3, 2023). "'All of Us Strangers' Triumphs at British Independent Film Awards With Seven Wins". Variety. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Blauvelt, Christian (December 5, 2023). "'American Fiction,' 'May December,' 'Past Lives' Lead 2024 Indie Spirits Noms". IndieWire. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (December 6, 2023). "'Killers of the Flower Moon' Named Best Picture by National Board of Review, Lily Gladstone and Paul Giamatti Nab Top Acting Honors". Variety. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ "SFBAFCC 2023 AWARDS". San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
External links
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