''Earth Mama'' is a 2023

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed and written by

Savanah Leaf Savanah Leaf (born 24 November 1993) is a British-American film director and video artist. '' Earth Mama'', her BAFTA-winning debut feature length film, was produced by A24 and Film4, and premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Her directori ...

, based on the short film ''The Heart Still Hums'' by Leaf and

Taylor Russell Taylor Russell McKenzie (born July 18, 1994) is a Canadian actress and filmmaker. After playing a number of minor roles, Russell received recognition for starring in the Netflix science fiction series ''Lost in Space (2018 TV series), Lost in Spac ...

. It was released theatrically in the United States on July 7, 2023, by

A24 A24 Films LLC, commonly referred to as A24, is an American Privately held company, independent entertainment company that specializes in film and television production, as well as film distribution. The studio is based in Manhattan. The company ...

and in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2023, by We Are Parable. It won the Outstanding British Debut award at the 2024 BAFTAs and was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2023 by the

National Board of Review The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures is a non-profit organization of New York City area film enthusiasts. Its awards, which are announced in early December, are considered the first major harbinger of the film awards season that ...

Premise

A pregnant single mother, with two children in foster care, embraces her Bay Area community as she fights to reclaim her family.

Cast

Release

''Earth Mama'' had its world premiere at the

2023 Sundance Film Festival The 2023 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 19 to 29, 2023. The first lineup of competition films was announced on December 7, 2022. Films U.S. Dramatic Competition * '' The Accidental Getaway Driver'', directed by Sing J. Lee ...

on January 20, 2023. The film was released in the United States by A24 on July 7, 2023.

Reception

Ronda Racha Penrice of ''

TheWrap ''TheWrap'' is an American online news organization that covers the business of entertainment and media. It was founded by journalist Sharon Waxman in 2009 and is based in Los Angeles. The site features original reporting, analysis, and editor ...

'' praised the film, noting first-time director Savanah Leaf's "ability to transmit great emotional depth in small snapshots." Lovia Gyarkye of ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' described it as "a quiet film, but it never once loosens its grip," and that it "operates on an intimate register, a level that speaks to its characters instead of about them."

Accolades

References

External links

* * 2023 drama films 2023 films 2023 directorial debut films 2023 independent films A24 (company) films African-American drama films Features based on short films Film4 Productions films Films set in Oakland, California Films about social realism Films shot in 16 mm film Focus Features films Universal Pictures films 2020s English-language films 2020s American films English-language independent films {{2020s-US-film-stub