THE PERFECT MOTHER
USA, 1996, 90 minutes, Colour.
Tyne Daly, Ione Skye, Justin Louis, Dee Wallace Stone.
Directed by Peter Levin.
The Perfect Mother is a telemovie focusing on Tyne Daly as a Greek- American matriarch. In the opening, she seems a devoted mother, helping to arrange the marriage of her youngest son to an attractive music teacher. Signs of difficulties appear at the wedding, especially through the character of one of her other daughters-in-law. During the first year of marriage, it emerges how much hold the mother has over her son, giving him a house, paying him cash for his work at a garage, having him come to breakfast every morning. When the wife is pregnant and then gives birth, the matriarch is even more possessive. Eventually, she resorts to the courts and then to a hired killer. In fact, the audience becomes more and more appalled as the nature of this woman who does everything for family is gradually revealed.
While audiences may have some difficulties with the psychology of the woman moving in such an enormous sweep, the point about a dominant matriarch, an interfering mother-in-law, a dominant mother are all made very strongly. The film doesn't pull its punches with showing the death of the daughter-in-law. Direction is by Peter Levin, director of many telemovies including the impressive film against capital punishment, In the Name of the People.
1. The impact of the film, for television audiences?
2. The city suburban settings, homes, schools, churches, garages? An atmosphere of authenticity?
3. The irony of the title, the focus on Yelena, her role as mother, matriarch? Her seeming the perfect mother and then moving to an insane criminal?
4. The opening of the film with Yelena speaking to her family but speaking to the audience? Audience curiosity, the film as a flashback, finally arriving at her speaking and trying to justify herself?
5. The introduction to Yelena, at the function, watching the children sing, talking with Kathryn's mother? About interfering in the family? Arranging that John should meet Kathryn? Arranging the wedding, paying for it, the deed on the house? Her dancing with her son? Her watching Kathryn and seeing her with a former friend? Engendering an atmosphere of suspicion? Her gradually interfering more and more, having John under her thumb, coming to breakfast? Her hostility towards Kathryn with the suspicions? Ever-present, the pregnancy, giving her peanuts against her allergy, being harmful and spiteful, poisonous ideas? The birth of the child and her growing more possessive? The wanting her to sign the document, Kathryn's refusal and the beginning of her vengeance? Poisoning her son further with lies about Kathryn's behaviour, insinuating her infidelity? Wanting the grandson at her house? The build-up to the court case, Yelena and her threats, haunting Kathryn, the phone calls in the middle of the night? In the courts, John and his change of heart? Daniel and his lies? The aftermath, trying to abduct the child, the phone calls, John discovering the truth and her lies? Her hiring the hit men, her picking up the hit men and being arrested?
6. The character of Kathryn, a good woman, daughter, music teacher, with the children? Happiness at the marriage? Perfectly normal, reacting against her mother-in-law, trying to get John away from her dominance? The beginnings of the alienation? The discussions with Charlene and Charlene's warnings? The pregnancy, the birth? Trying to separate the family from the matriarch, trying to tell John she and the child were his family? The growing suspicions, her exasperation, support from her mother? Going to the police and their not believing? The phone calls, the presence of Yelena, the abduction attempt? Preparation for the court, her lawyer, the evidence about the false bills, trying to track down Charlene, Charlene opting out? The verdict in her favour? The growing persecution, John wanting to come back, the possibility of reconciliation? The final threats, the disbelief of the police, taking the number of the car? The impact of her being shot? The pathos of the funeral? A good woman?
7. John and his place in the family, devoted to his mother, not realising her power? The happiness of the courtship, the wedding? His still dependent on his mother and going to her, discussing things with her, working for her? His mind being poisoned, growing more suspicious? The birth of the child? The divorce, the court case, his going back on his word to his mother? Return to Kathryn, love for his son, the continued insinuations and accusations? His mother putting on a heart attack turn? His final return, talking with Kathryn, the impact of her death? The funeral, his separating himself from his mother, kissing her and riding away on the motorbike?
8. Charlene and her pregnancy, the continued criticisms of Yelena, the brutality of her husband? Her leaving, hiding, her parents refusing Kathryn's phone calls, the meeting with Kathryn, her opting out? The sons and their dominance by their mother, the crooked work, the money-laundering, the garage? The threats about the cellar? The brutality and the lies?
9. The contrast with the normal family, Kathryn and her mother, Kathryn at work and teaching? Her lawyer?
10. The film as drama, as melodrama - and the strong message about filial dependence and dominant matriarchs?
