Mama's Boy (Documentary)

I have enjoyed a documentary after a long time, where the story of the whole thing was so fascinating and incredible. Of course, Dustin Lance Black is a name that a lot of us are familiar with. Having seen his husband Tom Daley's documentary few months back, it was only fitting to know a bit more about the man now. Centering around the upbringing of this Academy Award-winning screenwriter and how his close relationship with his mother led to and inspired his activism, even though the narrative style feels monotonous and a bit self-indulgent to be honest but its the story here that has gravitas and an ode to one's mother.

This is the story of Anne, Dustin's mother, a phenomenal lady by all means. Immobile from the chest down after a childhood battle with polio, she spent her life defying the odds. She was told she couldn't get married or have children, she met a Mormon man, got married and ended up having three boys (dustin being the middle child). We see how the father just abandoned the whole family one random day. Since the family was faithful follower of Mormon church, they hooked Anne up with another man who only later turned out was abusive who almost killed Anne and Dustin. Luckily he was sent abroad for work and family got some respite, during which Anne worked on getting her divorce. Its only when she met her third husband did they all truly realize what true love and family is. During this time we also see Dustin's story of his self-acceptance of being gay, his early life in LA, how he ended up writing stories, film making and eventually being an Academy Award winner. As promised in his winning speech, he then dedicates next many years of life in activism of LGBTQ people trying to get equal rights and marriage equality. The story of his family continues, with his brother also coming out as gay, but who eventually succumbs to death and finally Anne's death asking Dustin to take her life forward. We also see how Lance meets his husband and how they start a family together.

It is a story of overcoming the odds that is incredibly inspiring on its own, and should be even more so when coupled with Black’s story of growing up gay in the Mormon church with a father who abandoned the family, a stepfather who was abusive, and an extended family that was generally extremely conservative to become a happily married gay man who is also an award-winning screenwriter. Dustin traces their relationship from their closeness in his childhood, when his mother was his “best and only friend”, and his “lifeline”, to his early adulthood when she inadvertently rejected him before he’d come out to her. Even though most of the story is straightforwardly told by Dustin himself into the camera using extensive pictures from his past, the story is commanding, and sometimes intense, while also being heartfelt and intimate. We also hear from his younger brother, his step dad and also some his other relatives and peers bolstered by some beautiful photographs, home video and archive news footage. The second half of the documentary which focuses on Dustin's activist life is very interesting and uplifting. The story of how Black managed to sit down with leaders of the Mormon church and inspired other Mormons to declare their support and love for their gay children is inspiring, and even galvanizing.

Mama’s Boy is a hymn to the power of storytelling and a poignant portrait of Black’s late mother, that honours what she stood for, how she lived her life, and how that shaped her son. It also tells us deeper about who Dustin is, what he stands for, and how his life shaped up the way it did. (7.5/10)