The Good Mother

Plot synopsis:
This film is about a recently divorced mother, Anna, and how she copes and moves on with her life. Anna is from a family of some wealth and required obedience. She has learned most of what she would like to be from her Aunt Babe, a free-spirited, physically secure, and mouthy young woman. Babe becomes pregnant out of wedlock, is sent to Europe to finish her pregnancy and give up her child, and comes home only to try to resolve and hide from her downfalls at the bottom of a bottle. Babe drowns one night and it is uncertain if it was accidental or purposeful. Anna was considered a conformist at an early age and yearned to be more like Babe. Once her role model is gone, Anna continues with following form.Anna describes her marriage and sex life as rigid, and her attitude towards her husband as frigid. Her ex-husband remarries almost immediately which makes Anna all the more insecure, feeling easily replaced and commonplace. Then she meets an artist from Ireland, Leo, and becomes enveloped in his zest for life, his ability to make every aspect of life interesting, sensual, loving, and his natural beauty and compassion. Suddenly Anna feels like a desirable woman and invites Leo into every facet of her life, including her young daughter, Molly.
Anna had been raising Molly to understand and be secure with herself and her body, reading her books about the differences in gender and from where babies come. Leo is comfortable and nurturing with Molly and genuinely cares for his new family. One night Molly has a bad dream and goes into Anna's room while she and Leo are having sex. They stop while she tells of her bad dream and falls asleep. From the way the scene ends it does not appear that they continue although they don't deny it later.Anna's ex-husband, Brian, shows up at her house to inform her that he is filing for full-custody because of allegations that Leo has been inappropriate with Molly. We learn that Molly came into the bathroom while Leo was showering and saw him naked. She was curious and asked if she could touch him to understand the difference between male and female. Leo allowed her to since he understood that she was a curious child who was beginning to understand physicality and sexual nature. Brian does not know to any extent about Anna's educational book and misinterprets what Molly says happened. In court the lawyers place blame on Leo, who takes it hoping to end legal matters and keep Molly with Anna. He explains that it was a mistake, that he thought it was in keeping with Anna's parenting, since she had bathed with Molly and was very open with her. A counselor agrees that Leo should have known better but he believes that Molly hasn't been abused and is a very well adjusted and happy child, particularly with Anna and Leo. In the end the judge gives custody to Brian and Anna's relationship with Leo ends. She does not fight for her child although an appeal was an option. She only sees Molly on alternate weekends and holidays. One of her loves was taken away and the other she pushed away.

Tags: romantic, flashback

Review:
Excellent, compelling, infuriating, underrated..
I'm cautious about films with a message:  they are too easily heavy-handed and preachy, or on the other extreme capable of producing a mass "understanding" that is actually untrue ("The Klansman/Birth of a Nation" comes to mind).
Films dealing with sexual attitudes can very glibly preach either "damnation for transgression" or "freedom from repression" with equal superficiality.
This film is remarkable for painting all its characters with dimension:  no one is evil, but everyone can be weak, afraid, and make poor decisions with good yet fearful intentions.
The acting is terrific, so you feel satisfied at having seen a movie of quality at the same time you feel frustrated, infuriated, and finally exhausted by the outcome of the plot.
Another example of Leonard Nimoy's excellent qualities as a director, forever lost - I'm afraid - in the strange perception that his work in Star Trek makes all of his career somehow lightweight..
Beautifully Acted, Tender Story.
JJack100 couldn't be more ridiculous in her/his assessment of this film.
"The Good Mother" is a wonderfully acted, beautiful little film that is completely underrated.
Very basically, it illustrates the problems that sometimes might ensue due to simple "clashes" of culture and social morais, even though both are western (she's American, he's Irish).
It might have been interesting to see how the daughter describes to her biological father what actually happened with the boyfriend.
But beyond this single observation, it is to some degree a very interesting little character study of a single mother finding her way and stepping into the world of dating.
The relationship between the mother and the daughter is solid, and it is this very relationship that the mother has invested so much of her life cultivating, nurturing, and perfecting.
But now, she is confronted with the possibility of losing the one accomplishment, this relationship, to which she has committed herself and about which she feels very proud.
Overall, this is a quiet, very well acted, and ultimately heart-wrenching film..
Recommended.
Diane Keaton and Liam Neeson are great together, but the subject matter is hard to watch.
The points of view of the different characters are well presented.
You can understand everyone's behavior and conclusions.
Would I have preferred a tidy, happy ending?
Yes. But this movie doesn't take the easy way out.
It tackles a difficult situation caused by "enlightened, progressive" thinking, and leaves you pondering.
I so wanted to point out to the characters the early errors so the catastrophic ending could be avoided.THE GOOD MOTHER presents one of the most honest portrayals of awakening female sexuality and committed love on film..
OK, non-commercial film, a bit unpleasant.
Not particularly pleasant to watch.
The events at the heart of this movie are supposed to be thought of ambiguously, as maybe not such a big deal.
I don't know about 1988 Boston, but I live in the South in 2005.
I think that here and now, if these sort of things came to light, there would be a lot more going on than a custody dispute.
Probably a major criminal investigation, at minimum.
Anyone has the right to live a bohemian or libertine lifestyle, but not necessarily the right to subject children to such things.The movie could have developed the character of the ex-husband a bit more.
As it stands you really don't know if his motivations are reasonable concerns about his child, or if he simply intends to stick it to his ex.Everything else about the film, aside from the material was just fine.
The lead acting, the child actor, Leonard Nimoy's direction were all good.
Katey Sagal was good and looked scrumptious in a small part.Worth checking out if you are willing to forgo the car chases and alien wars, and think about something.
But don't expect to enjoy it..
true picture of the intrusions of the state on private lives.
Painful as this film is - especially for women - it is accurate in its portrayal of the intrusions of the state on the lives of parents.
Laws and practices vary by state, but Massachusetts is notable for its readiness to separate parents from their children for minor infractions or parenting the state disapproves of.
It is a warning to parents to stay away from protective services if their beliefs are progressive in ways the state does not agree with..
Not a good vehicle for Keaton....
Dreary, rather annoying film-adaptation of Sue Miller's book (directed by Leonard Nimoy!) has Diane Keaton in one of her weakest roles as a single mother sued for custody of her child by her ex-husband.
Seems mom's new Bohemian boyfriend (Liam Neeson) is a bad influence, and after Keaton's little girl sees Neeson undressed and begins asking grown-up questions about sex, any viewer might understandably side with the ex (who is made to be the villain of the piece).
Beginning with a puzzling prologue which hopes to show the different ways in which we view sexuality, Nimoy's take on this material is just confounding.
Keaton never really develops a character, and I presume we're supposed to empathize with her simply because she's lovable Diane Keaton.
Aside from some OK technical merits, the film is muddled beyond repair.
Unpleasant and troubling single mother's custody tale.
Though it is a well crafted film with wonderful actors, I'm not much of a fan of this movie's messages.
Its main characters believe that uninhibited folk who feel free to go about their house nude in front of their kids represent a more enlightened form of humanity than the more modest (sexually repressed?).
In this era where child molestation by step fathers & live in boyfriends is all too common, it casts the boyfriend's admittedly well intended behaviour in a sympathetic light; he's the misunderstood & tarnished victim of the piece.
My main complaint, however, is that the film supports the misguided notion that this wonderful new sexual discovery this mother is experiencing should be at least as important in her life as her child.The story revolves around a laboratory worker & part time piano teacher, Anna, who is divorced from her husband, Brian, a lawyer, and has custody of their young daughter, Molly.
Anna embarks upon a passionate affair with Leo, a sculptor, and basks in her newfound sexual discovery.
One day Molly curiously & innocently inquires whether she might touch Leo's penis.
He consents, so as to convey to her that there is nothing shameful or embarrassing about one's body.
However, the ex-husband, Brian, learns of the event and sues for custody, declaring Anna an unfit mother.
The acting is superb, with Diane Keaton compelling as Anna and Liam Neeson charismatic & appealing as the bohemian Irish lover, Leo.True, no one in this story means any harm, with the possible exception of Brian who may simply be vindictive.
On the other hand, what father in his right mind wouldn't sue for custody if confronted with this tale?
It is indeed heart wrenching that Anna loses custody of the daughter she dearly loves, but frankly, she put her own sexual fulfillment ahead of her maternal role.
Call me old fashioned, but I have a BIG problem with lovers living in or boyfriends sleeping over in any case, but especially where children are involved.
Anna & Leo definitely shouldn't be having sex in the same bed with Molly, whether she's sleeping or not.
Leo is kind to Molly, but his behaviour here is ill advised at best, and one cannot blame the courts for coming down on the side of the situation's obvious appearance.
There are certainly wonderful step people so I don't want to tar everyone with the same brush, but there's also far too much child molestation going on in second marriages & love relationships.
The biological parent must assume absolute responsibility for ensuring that their new love interest isn't victimizing their child.
Leo is perfectly innocent here, but Anna hasn't known him long and she's pretty trusting in leaving him alone with her little girl.
Frankly, if mothers were a little less trusting of their new boyfriends AND PUT THEIR CHILD FIRST, there might be a lot less abuse going on.As another noted, I think the moral of the story is that if the mother wants to live a bohemian lifestyle, she should be very leery of involving her child.
Frankly as I see it, unlike the 'Me first' philosophy of modern society, a 'good mother' is willing to make some sacrifices and most definitely puts the interests of her child ahead of her own love life.
That's not true here of Anna, who's totally caught up in her newfound passions and alas, pays the price.
This is NOT a movie that doesn't provide a viewpoint, as another has claimed.
It DOES have a viewpoint.
The producers' obvious intent here is to have the viewer totally sympathize with Anna, this caring & dedicated mother, and to see both her & her misunderstood lover as the tragic victims of injustice.
As always, the real victim here is the child..
Good Film (spoiler).
I saw this movie recently, although it was released in 1988.
Diane Keaton plays a divorced woman with a young daughter.
Liam Neeson is her boyfriend whose casual attitudes "free's" Diane.I had to think back to the 1980's when this movie was released and compare it to what our attitudes towards child molestation are now.
I was amazed that Liam Neeson's character wasn't arrested immediately when the incident occurred with Diane Keaton's daughter.
Nowadays, it just wouldn't be a custody issue, but he would have been thrown in jail.
That said, I was also surprised at Diane Keaton's character.
She appeared to be a good mother, but to let her young child spend time with a man that she may not really know was not a good idea.
Maybe it was the time period.
All I know is that the situation would be totally different now.If you are looking for a good film, with good acting, take a look at this.
You'll be surprised at Liam Neeson, who probably was just starting out, how young he looks!.
Good Job, Bad Mother.
Solid acting and i get what he movie was trying for but imo if you have half a brain or kids of your own you'd feel no sympathy for the mom.The Mother discovers joy through sexuality with her new (KEY WORD BEING NEW) lover and her daughter get's caught up in it (Not in a rapey way).I get it.
Mother is enjoying being a new liberated sexual being.
But how long have you known this guy?
If you're going to allow him to go around naked in your home, have sex with him on the same bed as your young daughter etc etc your answer better be YEARS and that you trust him with your daughters life.
Because that's basically what your doing.I know what others say this movie is about but i saw this as a movie where the Mother didn't love her Daughter enough to put her child above her own happiness and put her at risk of rape or worse.
While no one is supposed to be the villain of the movie the Father is kind of put in that role but i didn't understand.
Any Parent in their right mind would do the same thing and sue for custody.If it was the Father with a young son and was letting the son go around and touch his girlfriends private bits you don't think the Mother would go apeshit crazy?
Or if the Father let his Daughter touch his private bits because she was curious rather then let her touch some strangers cock?
I think the Mom would've gone crazy for that too..
Interesting drama.
Story about a divorced woman (Diane Keaton) who has custody of her daughter (Asia Vieira).
She starts dating a sexually liberated man (Liam Neeson) and they get serious.
At one point the child touches Neeson's penis (not shown) and her ex (James Naughton) finds out and starts a custody battle saying she's an unfit mother.I like this movie a lot--but I am prejudiced.
It was shot in Cambridge MA and I lived in that area back then so it was great to see it on a big screen.
That aside the story is unpleasant (for obvious reasons) but compelling.
It shows each side of the issue and really makes you think.
It doesn't end happily but realistically and I applaud that.
Acting is great by the leads and Jason Robards shines in a role as an understanding lawyer.
Some may find this slow and depressing but I was fascinated.
Worth a look..
no wonder you never heard of it - SPOILER.
No matter how many famous actors you throw at this "story," it is still pointless and laughable.
**Possible spoiler**  A woman gets divorced, meets an artist, and her 5 year old daughter touches his penis, trial ensues.
I wish I were making that up, but that is the 'story' of this movie.
Sound bad?
Yeah, it is.