Margaret

Imagine if the genders i this were reversed all around. Would it be "tender?" A "poignant tale" of fatherhood if a man abandoned his wife and baby daughter, and when his young daughter disappeared, he takes in a 15 year old runaway girl, who reminds him of his daughter -- and start sleeping with her? Would he be an "interesting" character?

This film is so callow as to present such a story sympathetically.

Barry the riddler. When Barry Keoghan is on the screen you have little to no idea what will happen, with exceptions like "the eternals". Before Saltburn, or Killing of Sacred Deer or The Banshees of Inisherin was MAMMAL. This 2016 drama about a mother confused with pain of losing her stranded son develops an oedipal relationship with a stray cat/petty criminal teen by the name of Joe. They both entrained in a derivation of mother - son erotic manipulation. The nuance and delicate wild nature of Joe contrasted with the restless mourning of Margaret , the substitute mother enhanced the picture to another degree of brilliance. Rachel Griffiths performance is also audacious and the direction of Rebecca Daly second feature is not only memorable but resonant with the volume of complexity of this 2 characters pivotal story.

What can I say; perhaps that unforgiven and unapologetic need to relate to another human to sustain that pain into losing a child to be lived again into another human in order to redeem the mistakes by making new ones. Margaret's inability to control her impulses like an animal subdued with irrationality and also his delicate chameleon- esque transformation from stray cat to wild young tiger by moments of the man and the boy converging by fear and lust oF Joe was perfect.

If the director was trying to make the viewer uncomfortable, confused and depressed then he accomplished that much.The movie was basically about a broken woman and a troubled,obviously hurting young man who she decided to take in to her home.The events that took place during the film were slow,awkward and strange to say the least but not in an enjoyable way.The movie went absolutely no where and even tho the acting was very good it couldn't make up for everything else it was lacking.

This quickly became one of my all time favorite movies.

It's a quiet movie. An intimate movie. A movie that truly feels like you're there in the scenes with them no matter what's going on. A movie that knows exactly what a close up is and the best way to use it to add something to the scene - and knows when to use a wide shot too. A movie that knows that silence is just as loud and effective as sound. Rebecca Daly is one of my favorite directors of all time now. I've never seen anyone present intimacy and feelings and emotions the way she did with this movie.

Astonishing is what it is. I loved every minute and will certainly be watching again for my own enjoyment and to study the ins and outs of this intense work of art.

I really appreciate films that tell stories in a touching and simple way. In this Mammal succeeds very well. It's a story about people we might know, who might be our neighbors, or ourselves. It's a simple, direct, frank story. No morals, laws and filters, just instinct and almost primordial feelings. A story of contrasts, especially regarding the female protagonist. A woman evidently devoid of maternal instinct, but not insensitive. A story, especially for the boy, at least partly of redemption. I enjoyed spending time with Margareth and Joe and sharing their lives. Very good acting, excellent directing. There is no need for excessive dialogues and soundtracks for those who know how to direct and recite glances and silences. Could it have been a better film? Perhaps. But it certainly didn't disappoint me.