‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ Might Be Mahershala Ali’s Career Best

As many readers of my reviews on First Cut and Geeks of Color are aware, my lifelong Christian roots are no secret. So sitting down for a religion-forward film like Bassam Tariq’s Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is more than a cinematic experience; it’s spiritual, too. Although I was raised by the Word of God, the more I’ve studied other religions, the more I’ve realized that every theology essentially believes the same principles: be a good person and be about family. So as Mahershala Ali’s devoutly Muslim character Latif juggles a broken family with a hitman-for-hire occupation, he must overcome an insurmountable trial of faith.

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The flick opens with a sleek assassination scene in a St. Louis bathroom, quickly establishing Latif’s quietly dangerous brand of murder. But the fun is interrupted when Latif learns that his wife Khadijah (Shakirah DeMesier) passed away, forcing the seemingly neglectful father to rush back to Houston to raise his three kids by himself. His eldest daughter, Fatiha (Adia), struggles with her belief in Islam. Especially following the sudden death of her mother, who could blame her? The preadolescent middle son, Qadir (Jahleel Kamara), is still learning his faith, which proves difficult when their entire world is stuttering around them. But the central driver of this movie’s conflict is the newborn Aziza, who desperately needs breast milk her mother can no longer provide. 

Here, Latif is tested before the eyes of a WIC employee who refuses to provide breast milk without a prescription; his brother, a physician’s assistant, Talib (Tramell Tillman), who scorns Latif for not being involved in his children’s lives; and imam Abdul Malik (Giancarlo Esposito), who expresses his disdain for Latif’s criminal antics. Mahearshala Ali shields his somber, heartbroken interior with a painfully stoic external composure. The two-time Oscar winner channels a similar “morally conflicted father figure” energy that breathed life into Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight 10 years ago. But instead of making a splash then dipping at the end of the first act, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother gives Ali a chance to go the distance, with some action-packed set pieces along the way.

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Despite Latif’s familial adversities, his ironclad conviction leads the hitman and his starving infant down some dangerous roads. An anti-hero in his own right, Latif confronts various degrees of evil in this universe. His employer Mike Mahmoudi (Laith Nakli) commissions Latif for one last task: to assassinate the gun-loving, cowboy hat-wearing Pastor Hwan Yoon (Jon M Cho). While Mike’s criminal exploits aren’t explicitly stated, his presumed kingpin status is evident based on the influence he wields over this Houston-based mosque. Director Bassam Tariq is from Houston, Texas, so the film has a real specificity to the world it creates.

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Pastor Yoon descends on the community promising spiritual healing and good intentions. He purchases a strip club and turns it into a church, proselytizes prostitutes to devout followers, and proclaims a divine kinship to the Big Man upstairs. Ultimately, however, the pastor reveals his violent, ruthless, and unhinged interpretations of Christian theology. And as Hwan’s crusade against sex work puts him in direct opposition to Hatty – the pornographer/potential trafficker who is Mike Mahmoudi’s son. Thus, Hatty’s daddy wants Latif to kill Pastor Hwan before the far-right preacher kills Hatty.

I know I spent more time than usual breaking down the plot for this film, but it’s essential to comprehending the emotional rollercoaster that this movie takes you on. Because yes, the first hour or so is a bit more melodramatic than your typical action thriller. But once the momentum picks up, you’re never not on the edge of your seat. Writer/director Bassaq Tarim perfectly harmonizes the action beats without compromising the integrity of the character’s journey. The filmmaker’s tactical slow-burn approach properly built up anticipation for the extraordinary fistfight and swordplay sequences.​

DP Katelin Arizmendi’s gorgeously lit cinematography added remarkable texture to the film. The lighting in particular was both simple and multidimensional, making way for vibrant daytime exteriors, richly stylized interiors, and perfectly exposed night sequences. Much of the look can also be attributed to the brilliant work by production designer Akin McKenzie and costume designer Deirdra Govan. The visuals and pacing tie together cohesively thanks to the fluid, intentional editing from Cam McLauchlin and an outstanding musical score from Son Lux.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is a stellar action thriller that skillfully constructs its conflict around potent themes like religion, faith, and family. Instead of running away from its Muslim-centric commentary, Bassam Tariq bravely showcases an underseen side of America. Visually, temporally, and thematically, the film is close to perfection. With an efficient 2-hour runtime, this small-scale character epic was anchored by an unflinching lead performance from Mahershala Ali. Easily one of the best films of the year. A must-watch for awards season.