Mother Mary is a film that is not just one genre, as it is a drama, with elements of a psychological thriller. A pop superstar, Mother Mary (Anne Hathaway) and her estranged costume designer, Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel), have had a long and complex relationship and one day, the superstar takes a grand step to urgently reach out to Sam. The superstar is preparing for a tour, has a crisis and wants to have a special costume created -with very little lead time. Directed by David Lowery (The Old Man & the Gun, A Ghost Story) based on the script he wrote, is visually captivating but it takes a very intense focus on the screen to understand the complexity of two stars with amazing careers.
For anyone who is looking for a film with a nontraditional narrative structure, this one begins with music, followed by fashion and the supernatural. The two actors are excellent at expressing themselves through their respective crafts, rather than just dialogue. Viewers can easily focus on visual scenes while listening to rich music and feeling the intense emotions at the height of artistic stardom. Audiences who are not fans of non-linear narratives may not be as enthusiastic about engaging completely with this production.
The cinematography by Andrew Droz Palermo and Rina Yang (directors of photography), costume design by Bina Daigeler, and music by Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX, and FKA Twigs are blended very well to achieve the atmosphere that complements the film’s surreal tone.
Michaela Coel and Anne Hathaway’s performances are excellent together with great chemistry. Coel gives a commanding, emotionally nuanced portrayal of her character. Hathaway is stunning in her role as a pop star with her stage presence and dance sequences. For any Hathaway fans, this film should be viewed to experience the actress in this role. I found it to be quite different from other films she has starred in and demonstrates a quite varied range of work.
The film opens in theaters nationwide on April 24, 2026.
Source: A24
###