Movies are like machines. There are plenty of factors that go into creating films and their final product. And if the maintenance is lacking in one of its parts, it cannot perform to optimum levels and thusly, something is a little loose and weakens the overall final product. Mother, Couch evokes arguably one of the best performances from its leading man. There are also marvellous performances from its supporting cast as well. But side plots meddle the full picture and everything it sets up doesn’t always land in its proper place.
The movie focuses on three siblings, David (Ewan McGregor), Gruffudd (Rhys Ifans) and Linda (Lara Flynn Boyle). They arrive at a furniture store to try and save their mother (Ellen Burstyn) from being trapped, figuratively, on a couch on the top floor of this store. The store also doubles as a Bed and Breakfast in a way as Bella (Taylor Russell) the store owner’s daughter explains. What continues to unfold is the chaos of family drama. It becomes a much larger entangled mess than anyone could’ve anticipated.
What makes Mother, Couch excel are the performances that highlight the script written by Niclas Larsson (who also directed the film). McGregor and Russell carry every scene they’re in and create this tense world of unease, similar to Ari Aster’s Beau is Afraid, that leaves the audience in a state of tense discomfort. Mother, Couch boasts some incredible performances around spilling secrets and a mothers diminishing mental health.
ph. TIFF
- Rated: NR
- Genre: Comedy, Drama
- Release Date: 9/8/2023
- Directed by: Niclas Larsson
- Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Ewan McGregor, F. Murray Abraham, Lake Bell, Lara Flynn Boyle, Rhys Ifans, Taylor Russell
- Produced by: Alex Black, Ella Bishop, Pau Suris, Sara Murphy
- Studio: Fat City, Film i Väst, Lyrical Media, Snowglobe
