It was like a sanctuary outside the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood: Hundreds of candles burned below a long wall covered in photos of ‘Him’, played by Javier Bardem, the only character written with a capital letter in the credits of ‘Mother!’, Darren Aronofsky’s latest controversial film, which premiered at Venice and TIFF to mixed reviews. This weekend, it was released nationwide. The setup was a hint for the film buffs at a special screening inside the Cinerama Dome, followed by a Q&A with the Brooklyn director and his producers, Ari Handel and Scott Franklin.
Questions from the audience showed that the film had baffled viewers, raising topics ranging from comparisons to ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ to discussions on the morality of a narcissistic God. At one point, Darren Aronofsky asked if anyone had biblical questions. His explanation of Jennifer Lawrence playing Mother Earth and Bardem representing God, with Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer as Adam and Eve, produced gasps and shy applause.
“It is a hard film to take,” Aronofsky admitted. “But I am convinced that a second viewing would be rewarding for everyone.” He mentioned that he wrote the script in five days and found Jennifer Lawrence perfect for the role because “Her talent has no boundaries, totally untouched by normal training.” Aronofsky highlighted that the movie features 66 minutes of close-ups on Jennifer’s face. “You never feel claustrophobic or bored. You are always wondering what she is doing, and that is a remarkable accomplishment for any actor.”
When asked about the lack of a soundtrack, Aronofsky explained: “I worked with Johann Johannsson for four and a half months on a score, but whenever we added music to a scene, it cheated the audience by signaling how to feel. The reality is, Jen ‘is’ the score of the movie. Her emotions guide the audience, and music would have disrupted that. Johann, being an amazing artist, contributed his talents to the sound design, which is critical, especially during the scene representing the destruction of the planet.”
Aronofsky, a radical environmentalist, expressed his concern about climate change. “This is not a horror movie, nor is it a direct reflection of what’s happening to our planet, but it is a cautionary tale. I don’t believe in the Devil, and I’m an optimist. The last chapter of Mother Earth hasn’t been written yet.”
After the screening, the director left a crowd full of questions chatting in the foyer of the Cinerama Dome.
Though ‘mother!’ might be the first opening bomb for Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence, I found her performance phenomenal. I had seen the movie a week earlier in Toronto and remembered it in a grey, grainy light. After watching it again at the Cinerama Dome, and I wasn’t alone in seeing it for a second time, the story appeared in vivid colors. It was like reading a good book again and understanding the deeper meanings. I was saddened to read that CinemaScore gave the movie an F, indicating that viewers didn’t want to think.
Personally, I found that a significant portion of the audience at the Cinerama Dome screening found ‘mother!’ to be very inspiring.
This is a film that demands you engage your mind and think.