Mother’s Day is usually a fun time for Filipino families everywhere. During this time, we give thanks to our mommy, nanay, mudraks, ermats et. al. But let’s be real—not everyone has an A+ relationship with their mothers.
What can we say? It happens—the silent treatment, helicopter mothers or tiger moms that just won’t quit.
The SCOUT team is here to say that you’re not alone. And as we’ve written before, film recos are our new love language. Here’s a list of films to process that angst for when you and your mother dearest aren’t on the best of terms. Cry, laugh and if you’re brave, why don’t you watch it together with her?
“Mudraks” dir. by Arah Jell Badayos and Margaret Guzman (2006)
Nobody talks in the Rabadon household. In this family, everyone keeps to themselves—no oversharing of feelings nor any questions about their personal lives. Beep boop beep. It’s a robotic, unfeeling household. The mere exception in the Rabadon home is its matriarch.
“Anak” dir. by Rory Quintos (2000)
Gut-wrenching and a classic tearjerker. In this film, we follow an OFW mother coming home after their father died. What she didn’t expect is to see her loving family turning into a dysfunctional household. Starring Philippine cinema’s icon Vilma Santos and a young Claudine Barretto, “Anak” is a classic OFW story on sacrifices and family issues.
“Four Sisters and a Wedding” (2013) dir. by Cathy Garcia-Molina
From the memes to relatable content, this film is a sure must-watch. The Salazar sisters live their own separate lives and thrive in their own way. But when their younger brother decided to get married, they come home once more to their childhood home. The sisters come together to stop their brother’s possibly bad decision. Little did they know, they’ll unpack their own mommy issues as well.
Read more: Tito Sotto mocks single moms, stays being a disgrace
“Manang Biring” (2015) dir. by Carl Joseph Papa
In this rotoscoped, Cinema One Originals piece, we follow an aging woman diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. She’s a bitter, old woman with six months to live. One day, she gets a letter from her estranged daughter Nita, informing her that she’ll visit her on Christmas Day. This led her to crazy hijinks with her friends to prepare for their mother-daughter reunion.
Read more:
On gift-giving and life lessons, as told by a new cat mom
8 underrated films made by female filmmakers
Still from “Manang Biring”