Director: Bassam Tariq
Writers: Bassam Tariq
Stars: Mahershala Ali, John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito
Synopsis: Follows Latif, a devoutly religious hitman, who embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children after his wife dies, confronting forces closing in and beliefs threatening to unravel.
Many people, at some point in our lives, have looked up to a higher power for answers. Being a devout follower of a religion and keeping your faith alive in even the shakiest moments of life, leading with the hope that someone is listening to your prayers and will come through as long as you believe. However, when that belief is shaken by personal hardships and loss, what then becomes of that side of ours, especially when it is most needed in those moments to find a path forward? What kind of a person will you be then? These are the central questions and themes of Bassam Tariq’s film, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.
Latif (Mahershala Ali) is a hitman who does his work as a “sword” for God, taking out targets who would otherwise bring harm upon others using only a blade at his disposal. A devoutly religious man who constantly looks to his faith to guide his hand and pave the way for him and his family, he finds his life shattered to pieces when his wife dies, leaving him alone to care for his three children, distraught and wondering why, after everything he has given to God, he is instead losing more. When he is given a job to take on Hwan Yoon (John Cho), a religious leader whose grip is tightening around Houston, Latif is torn between the trials and tribulations that arise from this situation, as well as having to care for his children, particularly his baby daughter Aziza who is in desperate need of breastmilk after her mother’s passing.
The title Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother comes from a hadith in Islam that highlights the account of a man asking who is most deserving of respect and love. The Prophet responds with “your mother.” When asked who comes next, the Prophet responds once again with “your mother”, and when asked who comes third, the Prophet says “your mother.” The man asks a fourth time, at which point he receives a different answer, but that is a discovery the movie holds on for a while. As Latif makes his way through life in the movie, the impact of his wife’s loss is one that informs every decision and emotional response, as he begins to reckon with being a father more than ever and having to be there for his children, who he has been distant from, thanks to his work. The biggest challenge comes through Cho’s Paster Hwan, who is menacing in the role as a conservative church leader who wants to “liberate” places where Islam is practiced. With his faith being on the line now as well, with less things working out for him and his work bringing danger to the doorstep, the characterization for Latif becomes far more complex, and brought to life brilliantly by Ali, giving one of his strongest and most powerful performances to date, and one of the year’s best in general.
Perhaps the most wonderful aspect of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is its look into religion and its beauty, even when you find yourself doubting it. While Latif may not be perfect, and he feels increasingly distanced from God, the movie often has moments, like with Latif’s children Fatiha and Qadir, brought to life by incredible performances from Adia and Jahleel Kamara, and his mosque’s imam (Giancarlo Esposito) that serve as a reminder of the paths we travel and finding a sense of absolution and goodness through it all, and how even when things seem strained, there is something to anchor us. It makes Bassam Tariq’s writing and direction all the more nuanced and transcendent in moments, especially elevated by Katelin Arizmendi’s stunning cinematography, which contains some of the year’s best visuals, and Son Lux’s wonderful score, proving to often be a celebration of Islam and capturing some incredibly powerful moments that elevate the movie and give more credence to its events.
Make no mistake, though, as Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother may be emotionally somber and look into such thematically deep aspects of its story, it is also extremely effective as an action thriller, especially when Latif has to take on multiple people going up against him and trying to evade a situation. The action is kinetic and terrifically filmed, with some brilliantly choreographed moments that are stunningly realized. It once again makes you lament that Tariq and Ali, who were previously attached to Blade at Marvel, never got to realize that vision, but the work here makes for more than effective compensation. To top it off, the movie is also extremely funny, with more than a handful of comedic moments and even running jokes that add levity to the increasingly darker story threads and escalating tensions. Among everything, the movie also nails its themes of fatherhood and Latif’s connection to his children, leading even more to some of the movie’s most emotionally strong and funny moments. The balance of these tonal shifts, expertly handled by Tariq, is commendable.
There is not a single second in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother that is wasted. Every moment of visual storytelling, every line of dialogue, every shot feels like it is brimming with purpose, and each minute detail eventually has a payoff that makes every decision, particularly towards the final act as everything begins to come together. The result is a powerful, thrilling, funny, heartfelt, and beautiful movie that succeeds on every level. This is a brilliant showcase for Bassam Tariq as a storyteller and Mahershala Ali’s acting prowess. Further backed by excellent supporting turns and the movie’s vibrant visual canvas, the result is one of the best movies of the year.
