Four Mothers, an Irish dramedy directed by Darren Thornton, has struck a chord with audiences, offering a heartfelt exploration of family, caregiving, and the dynamics between Irish gay men and their mothers. The film tells the story of Edward, a struggling novelist played by Scottish actor James McCardle, who is juggling a book tour and the responsibility of caring for his stroke-recovering mother, played by Fionnuala Flanagan. As if that weren’t enough, Edward also ends up caring for the mothers of three of his gay friends during a Pride weekend getaway.
The film, which is a follow-up to the Thornton brothers’ A Date For Mad Mary, is both funny and deeply moving, resonating with many who care for aging or ill parents. Darren Thornton revealed that Four Mothers was inspired by his own family experience, particularly the care his mother received before her passing from motor neurone disease in 2016.
“Amidst all the harshness of that period, there were moments of absurdity that we could laugh about, and that’s something we brought into the film,” Thornton shared. A key element of the movie, where Edward’s mother communicates through a voice app on her iPad, mirrors real-life experiences the Thornton family had during their mother’s illness.
Rory O’Neill (aka Panti Bliss), who stars in Four Mothers as psychotherapist Dermot, noted how the film’s portrayal of caregiving is universal. O’Neill, who is currently caring for his own father with dementia, feels the film speaks directly to many viewers. “It’s such a universal experience that’s so rarely on screen,” O’Neill said, highlighting the importance of telling these types of stories.
Thornton and O’Neill’s work celebrates not only Irish mothers but also the often-overlooked complexities of gay men’s lives. The film showcases the multifaceted nature of the gay characters, steering away from trite portrayals. As O’Neill points out, “I like that it feels like you’re in a gay world, and that’s fun.”
As Four Mothers continues to resonate with audiences, both Thornton and O’Neill are already looking ahead to their next creative projects. Thornton is developing a sports comedy, while O’Neill is reviving the hit theatre show Riot, which will return to Irish stages in July.
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