THE GOOD MOTHER
Price: $310.00 Code: 2362 |
Directed by Sarah Klein
2008, 107 minutes
Purchase: $310 | Classroom rental: $125
Every year, mothers from all over America leave their children and husbands to compete in the "Mother of the Year" pageant. One of these hopeful candidates will go on to impress the judges and become the reigning representative of American motherhood.
Director Sarah Klein follows several candidates as they prepare for the competition, juggle their children's activities, organize their churches' fundraisers, and still manage to get dinner on the table by 6. For America's best mom, that is all in a day's work and done with a smile on her face. This deceptively simple premise is the foundation for exploring what it means to be a "Mom," and by extension a "woman" in general, in modern-day America, and how that definition has evolved over time. Feminist ideals are seemingly exemplified and shattered simultaneously in this surprising documentary.
“What is presented in the documentary certainly leaves ample room for dialogue, though. And, could heartily lend itself to a multilayered discussion on American culture, feminist ideals, a notion of American motherhood, what constitutes motherhood today, stereotypes and classism. This film is recommended for people interested in social issues, American studies, gender studies, parenting, women’s studies, and economic studies. This film may easily be used in high school classrooms and up to motivate discussions on these and other similar topics.” - Educational Media Reviews Online
"This film would offer a lot in an academic, undergraduate setting. It would be very effective in a Woman’s Studies class, in a cultural anthropology class, or in any other academic setting where women’s roles and perceptions of motherhood are interrogated. Outside of the academy, this film would be a great conversation piece for any mother." - Anthropology Review Database
2008, 107 minutes
Purchase: $310 | Classroom rental: $125
Every year, mothers from all over America leave their children and husbands to compete in the "Mother of the Year" pageant. One of these hopeful candidates will go on to impress the judges and become the reigning representative of American motherhood.
Director Sarah Klein follows several candidates as they prepare for the competition, juggle their children's activities, organize their churches' fundraisers, and still manage to get dinner on the table by 6. For America's best mom, that is all in a day's work and done with a smile on her face. This deceptively simple premise is the foundation for exploring what it means to be a "Mom," and by extension a "woman" in general, in modern-day America, and how that definition has evolved over time. Feminist ideals are seemingly exemplified and shattered simultaneously in this surprising documentary.
Subjects & Collections
Reviews
"An interesting sociological portrait that is sure to spark discussion. Recommended." - Video Librarian“What is presented in the documentary certainly leaves ample room for dialogue, though. And, could heartily lend itself to a multilayered discussion on American culture, feminist ideals, a notion of American motherhood, what constitutes motherhood today, stereotypes and classism. This film is recommended for people interested in social issues, American studies, gender studies, parenting, women’s studies, and economic studies. This film may easily be used in high school classrooms and up to motivate discussions on these and other similar topics.” - Educational Media Reviews Online
"This film would offer a lot in an academic, undergraduate setting. It would be very effective in a Woman’s Studies class, in a cultural anthropology class, or in any other academic setting where women’s roles and perceptions of motherhood are interrogated. Outside of the academy, this film would be a great conversation piece for any mother." - Anthropology Review Database