Darren Thornton’s (A Date for Mad Mary, MGFF17) warm, sharply observed comedy is a story about family obligation, ageing and the bond between mums and their gay sons. 

Shy gay novelist Edward is on the brink of a big break when his mother Alma has a stroke, and he returns to Dublin to care for her. Commiserating with his gay friends who are also full-time carers, he’s aghast when the three of them dump him with their own opinionated mothers while they escape to Spain for Pride. Juggling the demands of four formidable women who refuse to be ignored with a fast-approaching book tour, Edward must confront what independence really means. 

Winner of the Audience Award at BFI London Film Festival, Four Mothers balances humour with tenderness in a compassionate portrait of Irish family life and queer resilience. Anchored by affectionate performances and a deft comic rhythm, the film finds joy in everyday endurance – honouring the care we give, and the care we struggle to accept.

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