Mary and Martha
Wealthy American housewife Mary Morgan takes her bullied son George out of school for home education,including a trip to Southern Africa. Whilst in Mozambique George is bitten by a mosquito which crawls through a hole in his net and dies of malaria. After his funeral at home Mary feels a compulsion to return to Africa where she meets English woman Martha O'Connell,whose 24 year old son Ben, a teacher with voluntary service overseas,has also died of malaria. Ben gave his net to one of his pupils,believing adults cannot catch malaria. The two women are shocked to see the high death rate caused by the disease and,whilst Martha stays in Africa as a voluntary helper,Mary petitions the American government to change things. Martha turns up at Mary's house unannounced and,helped by Mary's ex-diplomat father,they address a senate committee on health spending,persuading them to do more to combat malaria. They meet with some success though a coda states that much more can be done.
Insights
Plot Summary
Two strangers, Martha and Mary, meet in an African marketplace and discover they have both lost children to malaria. Inspired by their shared grief and determination to prevent others from suffering the same fate, they embark on a journey to raise awareness and funds to combat the disease. Their efforts take them from remote villages to international forums, highlighting the devastating impact of malaria and the urgent need for action.
Critical Reception
Mary and Martha was generally well-received, praised for its emotional impact and the strong performances of its lead actresses. While some critics noted its straightforward approach to a complex issue, the film was largely seen as an effective and heartfelt call to action against malaria.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its moving portrayal of grief and its advocacy for malaria awareness.
- The film effectively highlights the devastating impact of malaria in Africa.
- Strong performances from Hilary Swank and Brenda Blethyn anchor the emotional narrative.
Google audience: Audience reception on Google is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The film was inspired by the real-life experiences of Sarah Koenig, who produced the film and whose mother and sister both died of malaria.
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