Tia Nomore

Erika Alexander

Keta Price

Doechii

Sharon Duncan-Brewster

Bokeem Woodbine

Kami Jones

Slim Yani

Dominic Fike

Bruhfromlastnight

Marley Thompson

James Allen

Amber Ramsey

Tina D'Elia

Alexis Rivas

Ca'Ron Jaden Coleman

Harry Chen

Tina Robinson

Nathan Hunter

Anankha Pereira

La Keisha Fuller

Tavia Percia

Cheyann Orsua

Tiffany Garner

Qeashaun Thompson

Mike Bigasan

Marsai Jackson

Davina Countee

Cynthia Mosby

Dede Patterson

Joseph Nu'u Taugavau

Clenetta Mars

Tia Taugavau

Kenneth Woodward

Autumn Mirassou

Vianca Turner

Toni Johnson

Angelica Gabriella Allen

Kevin Berndt

Venee Call-Ferrer

Cabran E. Chamberlain

Varsha Chand

JF Davis

Renysha 'Nee Nee' Franklin

Leila Glenn

Izzy

Randy Lambert

Alysia Lembkey

Javon Mabon

Joseph Payne

Frank Scozzari

Stephen Shymansky

Timothy A. Slater

Etienne Vick

Olivia Luccardi

Corey Seaver

Medb Riordan

Sam Bisbee

Savanah Leaf

Cody Ryder

Shirley O'Connor

Lance Acord

Christine D'Souza Gelb

Cameron Washington

Ben Coren

James Wilson

Simon Cooper

Jackie Kelman Bisbee

David Kimbangi

Geraldine Barón

Olivia M Gomez

Abby Harri

Walter Welsh

Chenney Chen

Yajaira Marie

Renelle Cullors

LaTajh Weaver

Chris Martin

Mark Steele

Micky Mejia

Ryan Mendoza

Maurisa Rondeau

J. Hugo Fat

Ander Luque

Danielle Massie

Emily Bloom

Shane Alan Richard

Michele Woods

Rocky Capella

Jeremy Lloyd-Styles

Anthony Rosario

Tej Virdi

Isaac Olsen

Nick Koehler

Emma Warren

William T. Katzman

Clyde Nichols

Lee Towndrow

Kelly Tom

Nazir Lyle

Jeph Folkins

Irene Sdoud

Kelsey Lu

Kavin Chan

Earl Davis

Macie Vener

Matthew Cholewick

Amanda Reyes

Salome Oggenfuss

Bryan Gildner

Roy Ellis

Michael Shortt

Marcus Champion-Raines

Alex Herter

Jason Michael Noel

Kemi Ayoko

Alex Linzmeier

Isis Saucedo

Wendy Sill

Spyros Katsihtis

Dean Mozian

Ryan Wylie

Erika Eid

Logan Santee

Leon Jean-Marie

Nina Henninger

Elise Raven

Rachel Dagdagan

Rashod Edwards

Ileana Contreras

Roland Greedy

Galen Wallace

Frank Sliva

Brad Beedle

Adiba Khan

Jamie Mayne

Natasha Hester

Juliana Barreto Barreto

Alanna Dempewolff-Barrett

Joakim Sundström

Jody Lee Lipes

Elizabeth Fox

Per Boström

Josie Rodriguez

George Cragg

Ryan Marie Helfant

Eli Koral

Siena Brown

Alexis Vail

Brian Copenhagen

Sherill Quinn

Sabrina Ghidossi

Ayesha Janmohammed

Drama

Earth Mama

Park Pictures Features

Academy Films

Film4 Productions

United States of America

United Kingdom

English

single parent

community

oakland, california

rehabilitation centre

single mother

custody

pregnant woman

motherhood

woman director

foster care

northern california

Brent Marchant

This is one of those films that leaves me with decidedly mixed feelings. It’s definitely a showcase for writer-director Savanah Leaf, whose considerable artistic sensibilities are clearly apparent in her first feature outing. The same can be said for lead actress Tia Nomore, making her screen debut in a genuinely moving performance. Unfortunately, the vehicle in which their talents are being put to use could stand to be better. This story of the bureaucratic turmoil faced by a single mother in recovery who’s pregnant with her third child (and her first two in foster care) sincerely seeks to evoke viewer empathy for the circumstances she’s enduring. At the same time, though, the story also raises many questions about responsibility (or a lack thereof), an admittedly honest depiction of conditions that are often present in these scenarios that, nevertheless, tends to undercut the pursuit of that aforementioned goal, leaving viewers (like yours truly) confused about what to truly feel. Add to that a somewhat thin narrative that feels padded to fill out the runtime, and one has a picture that comes up short of its objective, despite the efforts of a fine ensemble cast and engaging cinematography. This production’s National Board of Review accolades and Independent Spirit Award nominations aside, Leaf and Nomore genuinely deserve better material to show audiences what they’re capable of. Regrettably, however, this isn’t it.

CinemaSerf

Tia Nomore delivers strongly here in this otherwise rather unremarkable drama about "Gia". She's a woman expecting her third child in San Francisco, with the other two already in the care system and she seems to be thinking this latest one will be adopted. We have no idea where the child's father is - indeed, men don't feature much at all in this film - so we are quickly immersed in her sense of isolation and loneliness from the start. It's not an emotionally charged, woe-is-me, sort of loneliness - it's more of a realisation that she wants to be on her own, thrives better on her own, won't get let down on her own. The thrust of the narrative now attempts to confront that approach and demonstrate to her that there are plenty amongst her community who could be there to help, to engage and to integrate with. It's a nicely photographed film with camerawork that provides us with an intimate glimpse into this troubled woman's life, but the story is really nothing new and the storyline emphasises all too clearly the difficulties of trying to have a child whilst reliant on over-stretched state infrastructure without addressing any of her own social and behavioural responsibilities to herself and unborn child. Indeed, she comes across frequently as a rather selfish, almost, childish herself, kind of character who thinks nothing of walking through the park stealing nappies from other recent mothers! It has moments that are poignant, and it does look good - but it's way too simplistic and just a little one-sided for me. I expect to see more of Nomore though.

Earth Mama( 2023)

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A review by Brent Marchant

Written by Brent Marchant on Tue Dec 19 2023

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