Sartaj Singh
Films often hold up mirrors to our own lives and experiences, allowing us to emotionally resonate with the relationships and bonds conveyed. The dynamic between a mother and daughter can be especially multifaceted, with themes ranging from unconditional love and mutual support to overprotectiveness and fixation. Such dynamics have enriched heartwarming comedies to poignant dramas while also serving as the basis of familial dysfunction in thrillers. These are some of the best movies on Hulu that feature their own unique and vastly different mother-daughter relationships.
6. Jacinta (2020)
Jessica Earnshaw’s documentary drama ‘Jacinta’ is a heartbreaking exploration of a mother-daughter relationship that is torn apart by addiction and incarceration. The film revolves around Rosemary and Jacinta, both of whom are in prison due to drug abuse, which began with Rosemary as a way to deal with the trauma of rape. Rosemary has done heroin with her three children, including Jacinta, and the film focuses on how the latter tries to come out of the cycle of prison and drugs after serving 10 months, so that she can reconnect with and take care of her own child. How the two women deal with the overwhelming emotions has been showcased in an unfiltered manner, one that is as painful as it is surprising. You can watch ‘Jacinta’ here.
5. Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story (2019)
Directed by Jim Donovan, ‘Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story’ chronicles the harrowing true story of Mary Stauffer as she and her daughter are held captive by a former student. Mary, a former missionary and teacher, is abducted along with her 8-year-old daughter, Beth, by a former student, Ming Sen Shiue. He continued to confine and sexually assault Mary while imprisoning them in extremely poor conditions. The Lifetime thriller explores the psychological and emotional trauma of their captivity, as well as the profound bond between mother and daughter that helps them endure the unimaginable. Donovan’s direction ensures a tense, suspenseful narrative that honors the real-life bravery of Mary Stauffer and her daughter, showcasing their strength and courage in the face of terror. You can watch ‘Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story’ right here.
4. Fresh Kills (2023)
Jennifer Esposito’s ‘Fresh Kills’ centers on the women of the Larusso crime family, specifically sisters Connie (Odessa A’zion) and Rose (Emily Bader) and their mother Francine (Esposito). While turning a blind eye to their family’s illegal and criminal operations is tough, it is a whole new ball game to fend for themselves after the ladies move to their new home in Staten Island. To add to the undercurrent of chaos is the strained relationship between the two sisters, whose hits are inadvertently subjected to Francine. How long can this go on? With a rare and gripping take on the gangster genre that keeps the patriarchy aside, ‘Fresh Kills’ is a dark and compelling exploration of a mom-daughter relationship. You can watch it here.
3. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)
Based on Judy Blume’s hugely popular novel about female adolescence, ‘Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.’ tells the story of eleven-year-old Margaret Simon as she navigates the new feelings, urges, anxieties, and physical changes that come with her puberty in her new 1970s New Jersey neighborhood, where she has just moved in with her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams). Barbara has to help Margaret deal with her issues and clear her doubts about her own mind and body, including the sexual ones. These interactions between the mother and the daughter make for some funny, beautiful, and powerful storytelling. The movie is directed by Kelly Fremon Craig and can be streamed here.
2. Run (2020)
Helmed by Aneesh Chaganty, ‘Run’ introduces us to a twisted mother-daughter relationship in a hair-raising thriller. Chloe is a wheelchair-bound teen who has been homeschooled and is completely dependent on her single mother, Diane, to take care of her. When Chloe finds mismatched documents and forged labels plastered over her prescription pills, she begins to suspect that her mother is hiding something. Things turn sinister as Chloe begins searching online for the medicine she discovered, but finds that the house has no internet, unaware that her mother has unplugged the router and is peering at her from the dark. As panic sets in, the film gathers pace and refuses to slow down its terrifying mother-daughter story. You can watch the gripping drama right here.
1. The Meddler (2015)
Directed by Lorene Scafaria, ‘The Meddler’ follows Marnie, an aging widow, who arrives at her daughter Lori’s house, much to the latter’s inconvenience. While Lori doesn’t hate Marnie, she has her own thing going on, and Marnie’s abrupt entry into her life appears to be problematic. However, as time passes, Marnie tries to create a new life by interacting with Lori’s friends and even getting herself a boyfriend. Slowly, her relationship with Lori improves, and we get to see a sweet mother-daughter bond take shape. Starring Susan Sarandon as Marne and Rose Byrne as Lori, ‘The Meddler’ is a heartwarming drama garnished with fun and humor. You can watch it here.
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