True Mothers

Play trailer

True Mothers

2020

2h 20m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

An adopted son's mother receives an unexpected visit from the boy's biological mother.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

True Mothers uses an intractable conflict to explore the bonds of parenthood with director/co-writer Naomi Kawase's usual sensitivity and grace.

Read Critics Reviews

Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

04/18/2021

3/5

[A] tender, compassionate drama about the complexities of motherhood.

Go to Full Review

Clarisse Loughrey

Independent (UK)

04/16/2021

3/5

Kawase's cast embrace the power of small gestures, especially Makita.

Go to Full Review

Raphael Abraham

Financial Times

04/14/2021

3/5

Delicately, the director peels away the layers of propriety and eventually the emotional heart of the movie does reveal itself and make its presence felt - it's just that Kawase takes a circuitous, scenic route to get there.

Go to Full Review

Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

02/13/2024

Kawase films with a gauzy haze, which heightens the moments of hopefulness, and shows the empathetic light with which she paints their world.

Go to Full Review

Carla Monfort

Espinof

06/05/2023

3.5/5

True Mothers uses melodrama to dig into the meaning of motherhood and spins the narrative structure to soberly and sensitively show the characters' internal dilemmas. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Wilson Kwong

easternKicks.com

02/12/2022

In Naomi Kawases True Mothers, what couldve easily been a tearjerker of a melodrama, is instead a tender and surprisingly restrained tale of motherhood.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Aluna U

Sep 24

True Mothers, adapted from Mizuki Tsujimura’s novel Asa ga Kuru, offers a deeply emotional exploration of motherhood through the intersecting lives of Satoko and Hikari, two women connected by a child and bound by sacrifice. Instead of focusing solely on custody conflict, the film thoughtfully portrays different forms of maternal love—both from the woman who gives birth and the one who raises the child. With strong performances, elegant visuals, and a non-linear yet clear narrative, the film leaves a lasting impression about the true meaning of being a mother. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)

See more

04/29/2021

There are not so many movies that leave a mark - a lasting impact... Every aspect of the movie was so deeply thought out and beautifully created. A movie I'll never forget.

See more

04/08/2021

A very strong film. It is wonderfully moving and carries you away in contemplation over the characters misjudgments and decisions.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Naomi Kawase

Director

Arata Iura

Kiyokazu Kurihara

Hiromi Nagasaku

Satoko Kurihara

Aju Makita

Hikari Katakura

Reo Sato

Asato Kurihara

Hiroko Nakajima

Takako Katakura

View more photos

Synopsis

An adopted son's mother receives an unexpected visit from the boy's biological mother.

Director: Naomi Kawase
Producer: Yumiko Takebe
Screenwriter: Naomi Kawase
Production Co: Kazumo, Kino Films, Kumie, Inc., Kinoshita Group Holdings
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2021
Runtime: 2h 20m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now