Finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift isn’t always easy. More than difficult, it can be downright frustrating to think of a gift that truly reflects just how much she means to you. Search after search on the internet with terms like “gifts that plant-loving moms will love” usually leads to endless scrolling for an hour and no gift found at the end. But while picking the right gift can be a challenge, spending a cozy night at home is effortless—and often more meaningful than any wrapped gift. Listed below are four movies that explore the complexities of mother-child relationships and show the power of maternal support in children’s lives. While bittersweet in the way they delve into the struggles of motherhood, they are also heartwarming and enjoyable to watch with mom this Mother’s Day.
Lady Bird (2017)
Written and directed by Little Women and Barbie director Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird follows the story of Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a strong-willed high school senior navigating the turbulent changes between adolescence and adulthood. Throughout the film, Lady Bird’s ever-fluctuating relationship with her mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf), adds to her whirlwind of emotions already strained by friendships and romance. The two characters struggle to express their love for each other, with resentment and anger often emerging instead. Lady Bird is a raw and authentic portrayal of the uncertainties that accompany finding yourself, and it reminds us that love rarely follows a linear path.
Freaky Friday (2003)
As the third adaptation in the movie franchise, Freaky Friday invites viewers into the lives of single mother Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her teenage daughter Anna (Lindsay Lohan), polar opposites who bicker constantly. After a heated argument at a Chinese restaurant, the restaurant’s owner gives them magical fortune cookies that unknowingly twist their fates. The following morning, their worst nightmare comes true when they wake up in each other’s bodies—and the only way to switch back is to understand each other’s lives. A coming-of-age comedy with a touch of fantastical charm, Freaky Friday reminds us that we don’t really understand each other until we step into another person’s shoes—even if it means getting a little freaky.
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once (2022)
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once follows the story of Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) and Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), Chinese immigrants overwhelmed by tax season, marital strife, and their relationship with their daughter, Joy (Stephanie Hsu), whom Evelyn is unwilling to accept has a girlfriend. During an IRS meeting, Evelyn’s reality is shattered when she is pulled into the multiverse. To save Joy in her own universe, Evelyn must navigate alternate realities and face Jobu Tupaki—Joy’s alter ego. Everything, Everywhere, All At Once whimsically flips between alternative universes, artfully capturing the impact of generational trauma and the challenges immigrant parents face while exploring what it means to understand and be understood—something that many teenagers and their parents oftentimes find difficulty in grappling with.
Little Women (2019)
Adapted from Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel, Little Women follows the lives of four sisters with different aspirations in the post-Civil War era. The film intertwines each sister’s stories as their dreams pull them in separate directions, but the story is centered on the second-to-oldest daughter, Jo March (Saoirse Ronan), an aspiring writer with a free-willed heart. While each March is ambitious in her own right, they are all anchored by their mother, Marmee (Laura Dern), who acts as her daughters’ primary guiding force as they face adulthood. Marmee embodies the maternal figure, serving as a testament to the power of maternal support in children’s lives. Filled with unconditional love and female empowerment, Little Women highlights the importance of staying true to your heart as the March sisters challenge societal norms and pursue their dreams.
