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Once Upon My Mother

Name: Once Upon My Mother
Director: Ken Scott
Released: 2025
Duration: 102 min

Representation Score

8.4/10

Excellent

2025

Director

Ken Scott

Runtime

102 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Once Upon My Mother is a character-driven drama that highlights multi-layered identity. By focusing on a Sephardic Jewish family and a protagonist with a physical disability, the film moves beyond standard clichés to offer a specific, textured portrait of resilience. The film excels at giving ability to act to characters who are often sidelined. Esther is a proactive force of nature, and Roland’s disability is treated as a part of his complex life rather than a plot device for pity. While the film remains rooted in a traditional familial structure and lacks queer representation, its commitment to portraying neuro-physical diversity and ethnic specificity provides a meaningful and nuanced cinematic experience.

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Category Breakdown

Does Once Upon My Mother have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on the maternal-filial bond and the struggle against physical limitations. There are no explicit LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships.

How does Once Upon My Mother portray gender?

Good

Esther is the main driver of the plot, not a passive caregiver. Her determination to challenge medical consensus makes her a powerful force of change.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Once Upon My Mother?

Good

The film offers depth through its depiction of a Sephardic Jewish family. Casting Leïla Bekhti adds North African elements to the Mediterranean and Sephardic identity.

How does Once Upon My Mother represent religion and culture?

Good

The story explores themes of personal morality and defiance of institutional authority. It emphasizes personal empowerment over strict adherence to tradition.

Does Once Upon My Mother include disability representation?

Excellent

The film centers on a character with a clubfoot, focusing on the lived reality rather than tragedy. Roland is given ability to act through his mother's refusal to let his disability define him.

Present on Screen

Avoids typical 'inspiration porn' clichés in its portrayal of neuro-physical diversity.
Provides a nuanced depiction of Sephardic Jewish identity and Mediterranean culture.
Grants high ability to act to the female protagonist, disrupting passive caregiver stereotypes.

Limited or Absent

No explicit LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships.
Focus remains within a traditional familial framework.

Official Synopsis

In 1963, Esther gives birth to Roland, the youngest of a large family. Roland is born with a club foot that prevents him from standing. Against everyone's advice, she promises her son that he will walk like the others and that he will have a fabulous life. From then on, Esther will do everything in her power to keep this promise. Through decades of trials and miracles of life, this film is the story of a true, funny and moving story, that of an incredible destiny and the greatest love there is: that of a mother for her child.

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