Mother of George, Film

Last night we watched Mother of George, an African film that was in our local film festival last year. This is an amazing film that tells the story of a couple from Nigeria living in Brooklyn that struggle with infertility. The film opens with the wedding of the couple, Ayodele (Issach de Bankolé) and Adenike (Danai Gurira) Balogen. On the wedding night after the festivities Adenike is prepped for her big night by the older ladies, her mother-in-law gives her fertility beads that will help Adenike produce their son who will be named George Babatunde.   Ayodele is a traditional man, he believes that the man fends for his family while the while the woman stays home to take care of their home. Adenike is also so determined to be a traditional wife that she even brings elaborate home-cooked meals to her husband’s work place – a Nigerian restaurant they own.

Months pass by and the mother-in-law starts giving her “fertility” tea.   All the while Ayodele despite the pressure thankfully refuses to take on a mistress but also refuses to go to the doctor. Adoption is out of the question, herbal remedies and religious remedies are sought to no avail. Pressure from home is also mounting, the whole family is desperate for a child. The mother-in-law finally suggests a controversial solution which leads to Adenike getting pregnant.

 The film is shot so beautifully and the colors are so visually rich. The director does a good job of really hammering the point home to the viewer. You feel the raw pain of all the characters, you feel the desperation for a baby, and you feel the moral dilemmas. You ask yourself “to what great lengths would I go to get a baby, first, to satisfy my desire to have children, second, to satisfy my husband’s desire to have children, and third, to get my family and in-laws off my back”. That is a very real question anyone who suffers from infertility to asks themselves.

I highly recommend the movie, you can find it on Netflix.

-Cat xo ❤