Mixing metaphor with emotions can often be a rich recipe within the kitchen of cinema. When prepared proficiently, a meal like this will successfully satiate a specific audience’s appetite. Written and directed by David Lowery, Mother Mary is a spellbinding psychological drama basted in a supernatural flavour. This blend of mesmerising music, enchanting visuals and superb acting results in a full-course of fantastic filmmaking.

On the eve of her comeback performance, an iconic popstar reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer. Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel lead the picture. Supporting them are Hunter Schafer and FKA Twigs.

Mother Mary is a movie which wears the mask of a haunted musical. However, the true heart of the film is the emotional dynamic between Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel’s characters. Both actors are exceptional in their roles and deliver their sharp dialogue expertly. You immediately understand that this duo has a layered history, and it is this intrigue which keeps you captivated from start to finish.

While the movie does lose some of its momentum near the end, it is never boring thanks to the story’s injection of surreal symbolism. It is here that Andrew Droz Palermo and Rina Yang’s cinematography stands as the film’s third lead character. Their beautiful visuals combine seamlessly with Daniel Hart’s music. In this vein, the many performances of original songs are a true highlight as well. Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX have written many convincing pop pieces, performed perfectly by Hathaway.

A few flaws worth mentioning are the loss of momentum already mentioned, as well as the abundance of metaphors in relation to the real events taking place. As the poster states, “this is not a ghost story”, but the narrative does feature a supernatural throughline which is never quite as convincing as it could have been. The story should have explored this aspect further or lost it entirely.

All in all, Mother Mary is a great film, which further cements David Lowery as one of the best directors working today. A satisfying explosion for the senses, this is a must-see feature for all lovers of surreal cinema.