GREEK MOTHERS NEVER DIE: A Lively, Lovely Film

There are few things as timeless as the story of a child and their well-meaning parent who they can’t stand. They pick their clothes, judge their ambitions, and nudge them toward the prospective partner that they’ve deemed worthy. At times, they wish their parent would leave them alone or even wish they were dead. Even in death, though, the toughest of parents find a way to keep tabs on you. Such is the case in writer-director Rachel Suissa’s newest film, Greek Mothers Never Die. 

A Tale of Love and Death

Following the loss of her father, Ella (Abby Miner) and her mother Despina (Suissa) leave their home in Greece to return to the island where her parents met. “It’s Greece, but in America!” Her late father, Jack (Carter Sirianni) owned a concert hall here, which Despina has converted into a gyro restaurant that she runs as a family business. Naturally, she is semi-neurotic and overbearing, obsessed with protecting Ella from the world, who increasingly resents her as the years pass. On her twenty-sixth birthday, Despina gifts her the lease to the restaurant, intending to make the restaurant finally hers. This does not sit well with Ella. Frustrated, she unloads years of pent-up grievances. As they argue, Despina has what Ella believes is one of her notorious fake heart attacks to garner sympathy.

Tragically, this one’s real.

As one would expect, Ella blames herself for her mother’s death. She stands next to her grave, alone, wondering how she’ll get on without her, when Despina appears at her side. She’s still very much dead, but a Greek daughter can never truly escape her mother. Ella, being a reasonable person, immediately checks herself into a hospital, believing she’s gone crazy. Who else examines her but Nick (Simon Rérolle), her childhood friend/crush who left for America years before her to become a doctor. He’s also a perpetually single bachelor, having left his last girlfriend for talking to the ghost of her late dog, but that doesn’t stop Despina from urging Ella to go for him.

A Family Comedy With Feeling

While Greek Mothers Never Die might hit the beats of a romcom, even referencing some of the clichés, that’s not the main focus of the film. To me, the romance is the B-plot, and the real heart of this story is the moments between Ella and Despina. The familial chemistry between the two is unmatched, and they share not only some of the most touching scenes but the funniest as well. Suissa stands out among the charming cast, channeling her own mother, with some great one-liners and facial expressions. Miner is equally endearing and sympathetic as she attempts to apply logic to a fantastic situation. She’s also given multiple opportunities to highlight her singing abilities, as Ella prepares an audition, some of which provide very touching moments. The duo make for two strong female characters in a film that also puts every man at the mercy of women and their decisions. While they still have agency, their arcs are determined by their counterparts, whether that be Despina, Ella, her friend Heather (Sophia Sutton), or their own significant others.

With her first American feature film, Suissa has made a film that is cute, funny, and has so much heart. There are several great lines, including when Despina explains how Ella is named after Ella Fitzgerald, who she claims “was one-fifth Greek” as the result of a blood transfusion. Greek Mothers Never Die hits the beats of both a romcom and a dramedy, its tongue firmly in its cheek while referencing the seemingly inescapable tropes of both genres. At the same time, Suissa puts her unique stamp on this film, including original songs among a fitting pop/rock soundtrack.

Greek Mothers Never Die: A Tragicomical Labor of Love

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Greek Mothers Never Die is a sweet film with enough humor and heartfelt moments for mother and daughter alike. With its own spin on romantic and family comedies, there’s something for everyone.

Greek Mothers Never Die releases on VOD May 9th.