Review
"Mother of George" is a film with a strong and interesting crosscultural message. It's also a film that would probably be seen as a feminist moviethough it is something that can be enjoyed or at least appreciated by all.
The film begins with a weddingand what a beautiful wedding it is. The guests are all Nigerian Americans and they are dressed in their finest and most color clothing. During the course of the wedding (which takes up a significant part of the film) the new wife Nike (Danai Gurira) is told again and again how important it is that she have a baby boy as soon as possible. Culturally there is a HUGE amount of pressure on herand it's pretty obvious at this point that Nike will have difficulty conceiving. This is made so much worse by her motherinlawa very traditional African mother who insists that Nike either become pregnant or her son find another wife! While Ayo (Isaach De Bankolé) is not about to get another wife he also is bound by masculine expectations and he forbids his wife to get infertility testing and he adamantly refuses to have himself tested. What is poor Nike to do Well when she listens to her motherinlaw's plan it throws her for a loop.
This film has a lot to say. Yet interestingly it DIDN'T have a lot of dialog and managed to say a lot without words. Its theme of women as baby machines and their devaluation by societies is hardhitting and sad. Equally sad is its way that men are trapped by their machismo. There's a lot to this filmand one that in some ways cuts across all cultures. Well worth seeing.