Ma (Celia Rowlson-Hall, 2015): USA

Reviewed by Adam Bensalah. Viewed during 2015 AFI FEST.

The movie “Ma” written and directed by Celia Rowlson-Hall emits a feeling of confusion. This is due to the fact that the whole movie was silent. On one hand, from a psychological perspective the movie’s scenes give a sense of insanity and irrational behavior. Unlike what todays society might qualify as ordinary behavior, Ma seems to be mentally deranged and in need of special treatment. On the other hand, the supernatural and religious aspects of this movie counter the psychological perspective. She gave the impression that she was on a mission, that something had control over her mind and body, that made her have suspicious visions that are not inspired from reality.

In other words, both perceptions give the movie a touch of terror, leaving the audience under the influence of an inexplicable silence and unusual comportment inspiring mostly confusion. In spite of the all the efforts made by the director of the movie to give the audience a hint of her reasoning. Plenty of questions are left unanswered and need more development.