BFF25: Four Mothers

Australian premiere

Winner of the Audience Award at the BFI London Film Festival, this sharp-edged comedy with a beating heart, bursts onto the screen with wit, warmth, and just the right amount of chaos. Edward (James McArdle), a writer on the cusp of international success, is all set for his big U.S. book tour when life pulls the rug out from under him—his beloved mother Alma (the incomparable Fionnula Flanagan) suffers a stroke. Suddenly, Edward is stuck juggling deadlines, doctor’s visits, and the crushing weight of care. But things really spiral when his three best friends skip town for a Pride festival, leaving him with their mothers too. What follows is a whirlwind weekend in Dublin where four wildly different women - sharp, stubborn, hilarious, and heartbreakingly human - collide under one roof. Arguments fly, secrets spill, and unlikely alliances bloom.

Directed by Darren Thornton, Four Mothers is a riotous, deeply moving ode to the mess of family, chosen and otherwise. Expect laugh-out-loud clashes, tear-jerking confessions, and a bracing reminder of the love that binds us when everything else falls apart.

Director: Darren Thornton
Cast: James McArdle, Fionnula Flanagan, Dearbhla Molloy, Paddy Glynn, Stella McCusker

WINNER | Audience Award, BFI London Film Festival 2024