Four Mothers is a Tender, Funny Exploration of Queer Identity and Ageing

Darren Thornton’s Four Mothers is an Irish dramedy following Edward (James McArdle), an aspiring gay young adult author who finds himself unexpectedly left in charge of four women – his own mother (Fionnula Flanagan) who he usually cares for, and the mothers of his friends (Dearbhla Molloy, Paddy Glynn, and Stella McCusker). Over a hectic weekend, he must juggle the demands of a growing literary career with the chaos of caring for four peculiar, argumentative, and fiercely individual older women.

Four Mothers is charming in its understated story. If you’re looking for some light-hearted fun at the cinema, it fits the bill perfectly. While simplicity can sometimes make a film feel underdeveloped or superficial, Four Mothers uses it to its advantage by focusing earnestly on just a few key themes rather than attempting to tackle too many at once and ultimately expressing nothing. Instead, viewers are left with a fulfilling sense of reflection and the enjoyment of many laugh-out-loud moments.

What stands out most is the film’s emphasis on connection, shared experiences and common humanity over generational or ideological differences. It’s a simple yet touching sentiment. In cinema and wider media, the lives of older people are too often underrepresented or, worse, reduced to caricatures. Rarely are they portrayed as people with desires, agency, and emotional complexity.

Four Mothers draws subtle parallels between this erasure of older people and the often overlooked experiences of older queer individuals, particularly gay men. Growing up queer in a heteronormative world can delay the typical rites of passage associated with youth, leading many to feel as though they’ve somehow missed out. This is reflected in a subplot where Edward’s friends depart for a Pride festival in Spain, attempting to reclaim a youthful exuberance they felt denied. While queer cinema often centres on younger generations, stories of queer people navigating life beyond early adulthood remain few and far between. In this way, Four Mothers becomes a quietly radical film – placing these two overlooked groups side by side in a story of unexpected kinship.

One memorable scene sees the four women reminiscing about their late husbands, joking candidly about how they miss having sex. This moment of light-hearted honesty beautifully subverts the tired trope of the sexless older person, reminding audiences that desire doesn’t diminish with age. It also reinforces the value of on-screen representation by not only for creating richer, more authentic stories, but also allowing older viewers to see their own lives reflected in the entertainment they consume.

While different generations can often seem worlds apart, Four Mothers gently illustrates what can be gained from mutual effort and understanding. Edward’s journey toward self-confidence, both personally and as a queer man, is echoed in the growth of Alma, Jean, Maude, and Rosey, each on their own paths of rediscovery. Their shared experiences spark both moments of humour and heartwarming sincerity.

Tyneside Cinema is showing Four Mothers from 4th April and you can book tickets here.