Empathetic Look at Complex Problems

Earth Mama is a beautiful, empathetic film, an impressive directorial debut for Savanna Leaf and a great role for its lead star, Tia Nomore. What it lacks in linear narrative progression, it makes up for in a strong thematic throughline that carries the audience through a harrowing exploration of the societal pressures young Black women are put under.

Earth Mama follows Gia (Tia Nomore), a young Black woman who is pregnant with her third child while she has two others in the foster care system. The movie follows Gia’s last month of pregnancy as she fights to get her kids back while also deciding the future of her unborn child and if she wants to keep it or put it up for adoption as a chance to give the child a better life. Earth Mama is directed by Savanna Leaf, who also penned the screenplay, adapting her own short film The Heart Still Hums, which she co-wrote with Escape Room star Taylor Russell.

The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by A24. At just 29 years old, Leaf displays an impressive level of directorial vision. There is a meticulous level of craft, with careful shot selection and precise editing, that feels like the hand of a seasoned veteran. One particular scene where the lines between reality and dream are blurred is a nightmarish scene that will likely make audiences squirm more than any horror film released this year. Leaf’s Earth Mama, alongside Celine Song’s Past Lives and Michael B. Jordan’s Creed III, marks another impressive debut feature from a first-time director this year.

Tia Nomore Is Earth Mama

A24

Tia Nomore is not only the lead of the film but the breakout star. She gives an incredibly powerful performance. For much of the movie, she registers the same affectation. Some might write this off as one-note acting and a bad performance, but acting is much more than just displaying different emotions in a movie (for example, Brad Pitt’s performance in 12 Monkeys or Bill Murray’s in Broken Flowers are extremely one-note, but frequently lauded as masterful). It is also accurate to the character and the tone of the film, and Nomore is locked into the type of person Gia is.

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The character is just 24 years old, and with two young kids, it is clear she was forced to grow up fast. She has not been given the opportunities that others have, and she has been forced to look out for herself with little to no help and is constantly in fight mode. Her moments to herself are of quiet introspection, as she is left to sit with the idea that no matter how hard she tries, because of her race, her class, and the circumstances of her birth, the odds are stacked against her.

The hypocritical system wants to hold her accountable but will not give her the real chances she needs to get out of the situation. It is more about punishment and ostracization than anything else. Nomore’s depiction of Gia is a complex one and one that indicates a bright future for her in feature films.

Cinematographer Jody Lee Lipes also deserves a special shoutout. The cinematographer has made a name for himself as a go-to eye for intimate character work. His credits include Trainwreck, Manchester by the Sea, and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, which all feature a soft touch in their framing, lighting, and composition. Earth Mama is shot on 16mm film stock, which is both grainy and soft, giving the movie a beautifully candid visual aesthetic. It provides a texture that is simultaneously comforting and fragile, much like the lead character seems on the verge of giving out.

An Emotionally Grand Story on a Small Scale

A24

There have been plenty of movies focused on the complex nature between children and their lower economic status or parents with addiction issues. Yet most of those films put the narrative through the eyes of the child. Earth Mama instead shifts the focus to that of the mother and the pressure that comes with not only being a parent but the anxiety that a newborn baby’s arrival will bring.

Despite having two kids already, it certainly is not easier. What is a mother’s responsibility in these difficult situations? Obviously, taking care of the child is the top priority, but what does taking care of them mean? Is it a sign of weakness to give a child up for adoption if one does not have the resources to take care of it, or is it the morally right thing to do? These are all personal questions with no real easy answer, and Earth Mama never looks to assign one right moral to a complex issue but instead focuses on the circumstances of this particular character.

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Movies that tackle drug addiction and poverty often have to walk a fine line. If they go too far in one direction, it can be read as being too glib with the subject, while on the other hand, too much in the other direction can be read as melodramatic and bordering on the after-school special territory. Luckily the power of both Leaf as a director and Nomore as the star is able to keep this a very real but honest place.

Namore is not given the big showy, dramatic speech one would expect from a movie like this because not only would that not mesh Earth Mama’s naturalistic tone, but also would not match her character. The emotional moment towards the end of the movie, when the pressure gets too much for Gia, is one of a defeated cry. After trying so hard, one mistake (be it a big one) is now all that matters. All the hard work and progress now means nothing because, sadly, all that matters to the system is where one stumbles.

Earth Mama is not a traditional summer movie. While it might not be the fun alternative to big blockbuster spectacles, it is a down-to-earth, serious character piece with moving performances and an empathetic heart on its sleeve. It also hopefully inspires viewers to have more empathy for those fighting an uphill battle against institutions that don’t give them a chance to strive. Earth Mama, hopefully, is the first chapter of an exciting career for everyone involved.

From A24, Earth Mama will be in theaters beginning July 7th. You can watch the trailer below.

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