Mothers are the backbone of society and often the heart of a good story. Whether they’re nurturing, fiercely protective, or somewhere in between, mothers embody the full emotional range and depth of humanity.
Motherhood takes countless narrative shapes, with no single right way to portray a mother’s love. In celebration of a day for mothers everywhere, EnVi brings you a few selected films and shows that beautifully highlight motherhood in all its stages and forms.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
This moving and emotional drama navigates the many seasons of Ae-sun (IU), a bright young girl who strives for a life bigger than the small Jeju Island she’s always lived on. Starting off in the midst of the Korean War in 1951, our protagonist is forced to navigate both personal and political upheaval after the loss of her mother, a haenyeo (a traditional woman diver). Despite the hardships, Ae-sun dreams of becoming a famous poet someday on the mainland. Her early years also trace her close bond with sweet fellow classmate Gwan-shik (Park Bogum), who clearly has feelings for her. The innocence and sweetness of their first love blossoming is shadowed by their inexperience, poverty, and Gwanshik’s family’s disapproval.
The story jumps forward to follow the next generation focusing on their eldest child, college daughter, Geum-myeong–also played by IU. Just like her mother before her, she’s also trying to figure out her life and relationships. Unfortunately Geum-myeong doesn’t fully understand how much her parents went through to give her a better future. Although this causes tension between them, it also opens the door for healing and breaking family cycles. Even though Ae-sun grew up without her mother, Geum-myeong still has hers, and that creates powerful moments about family, trauma, and resilience.
The series skillfully shows different generational perspectives of how trauma and history ripples through families. It paints a beautiful picture of life, offering hope for transformation and reconciliation by highlighting moments of joy through their characters offsetting the darker historical times. — Heather Ngo
The Love You Give Me
First seen together in Once We Get Married, Wang Yu Wen and Wang Zi Qi gained popularity for their onscreen chemistry and reassembled for a series based on the Chinese novel by Shi Ding Rou. After five years of no contact, a reunion between old flames is less than romantic in The Love You Give Me. Min Hui (Wang Yu Wen) and Xin Qi (Wang Zi Qi) meet again by chance, but their interactions are hostile due to their previous breakup which ended on poor terms.
Xin Qi soon discovers that he is the biological father of Quanquan (Cui Yixin), Min Hui’s four-year-old son. Min Hui defends her choices as a single mother and guides the growing relationship between Xin Qi and Quanquan. While the couple spends more time together as they learn to co-parent their son, old wounds inevitably resurface. This 28-episode series explores themes of love, forgiveness, and family dysfunction. Tune in to keep up with the life of this family of three on Netflix or Amazon Prime. — Allie Salvucci
Zero to Hero
The 2021 Hong Kong biographical sports film Zero to Hero centers around So Wa-wai, the first Hong Kong athlete to win gold at the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta. Outside of his grit and determination, Wa-wai’s mother, Hon Siu-ching, was a major driving force in his success story. Shortly after his birth, Wa-wai (teenager portrayed by Fung Ho Yeung and adult by Leung Chung Hang) developed haemolytic jaundice, which later caused cerebral palsy — meaning that he would likely be under the care of his mother (portrayed by Sandra Ng) for the rest of his life. On top of his initial diagnosis, Wa-wai also suffers from significant hearing loss, which complicates communication matters.
Despite bleak outlooks from medical professionals, a determined Mrs. Hon teaches Wa-wai how to walk and navigate through different tasks independently — as she refuses to let her son lose before he even starts the race of life. One day, when she witnesses him running from neighborhood bullies, she signs him up for a local sports organization that trains physically disabled individuals. Following its release, Hong Kong’s Motion Pictures Association selected Zero to Hero for the Best International Feature Film entry at the 94th Academy Awards. Zero to Hero is available for streaming on Netflix. — Ebonie Mustipher
Ali & the Queens
Directed by Lucky Kuswandi, Ali & the Queens follows Ali (Iqbaal Ramadhan), a young man determined to reunite with his estranged mother, Mia (Marissa Anita), despite growing up hearing negative stories about her. Armed only with her old letters, Ali travels to New York, where he goes to Mia’s former address and meets the self-proclaimed ‘Queens of Queens’ — Party (Nirina Zubir), Ance (Tika Panggabean), Biyah (Asri Welas), and Chinta (Happy Salma). These hardworking Indonesian migrants, juggling multiple jobs, open their doors to Ali, who feels like an ant moving through the concrete behemoth.
The film redefines the meaning of family, exploring the challenges of motherhood and the sacrifices it demands. It also tackles themes of forgiveness and reconciliation, challenging cultural norms around filial piety, or durhaka, which often complicate parent-child dynamics in Indonesia and much of Asia. Ultimately, Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens is all about the sacrifices, resilience, and complexities of motherhood — of what it means to nurture and forgive. Ali & the Queens is now streaming on Netflix, with its sequel series, Ratu Ratu Queens, coming soon to the platform. — Carissa Alfiora
Turning Red
Streaming on Disney Plus, Pixar’s coming-of-age film, Turning Red (2022), takes life as a teenager to new, fuzzy heights. While other teenagers turn green from envy, Chinese Canadian middle schooler Mei Lee turns red from, well, everything.
Transforming into a massive red panda when she’s feeling particularly emotional, Mei unknowingly unlocks an innate power that’s been passed down to her from her mother’s side of the family for generations. As an added complication to her panda problem, her relationship with Ming — her strict, overprotective mother — is already quite strained. Despite Mei’s deeply rooted desire to make Ming proud, things get twisted along the way as she struggles to handle her furriness, friendships, and family all at once.
Although the emotional tensions from the mother-daughter conflicts are inevitable, Turning Red is a fun, family-friendly story that’s filled with catchy songs from fictional boy group 4*Town, fantastical magic, and fangirl moments that are lighthearted and all too relatable. It’s as entertaining as it is eye-opening, giving audiences a peek into the essence of a mother who was a daughter first herself. — Karen Yi
How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
Instead of using loud arguments or dramatic twists, this touching family film moves you through quiet everyday moments from a kettle boiling, a plastic wrapped pomegranate, to a grandson learning to care. The film centers around M (Billkin Putthipong Assaratanakul) a former gaming streamer who selfishly begins caring for his sick grandmother just to win her inheritance amongst her impending death. However as time passes, M grows closer to her, learning the value of love, life, and family. These simple yet powerful scenes have a deep emotional impact that makes the film feel honest and universally relatable for anyone who has experienced guilt or loss within a family.
The film also shines a light on gender roles and family traditions, especially in Thai-Chinese culture. Mengju (Usa Semkhum), the grandmother clearly favors her sons even when one is obviously stealing from her. Her daughter, Sew (Sarinrat Thomas) expresses the pain of being overlooked in one emotional line, “Sons get assets, daughters get cancer.” This bias is rooted in Mengju’s own past, where her family’s wealth was passed along to her brother after their parents’ death. The film notably doesn’t blame her but showcases how these unfair ideas are passed down over time. With thoughtful camera work and settings that contrast big, modern homes with Mengju’s small humble house, the film demonstrates the emotional and financial distance between families. It’s a quiet but powerful reminder of how traditions shape us and how love in the end can still heal. — H.N
The Joy Luck Club
Set in San Francisco, a group of four Chinese immigrants (Kieu Chinh, Lisa Lu, Tsai Chin, France Nuyen) recount their pasts to reflect on their tumultuous relationships with their daughters (Ming-Na Wen, Rosalind Chao, Lauren Tom, Tamlyn Tomita). Because the first-generation Chinese American daughters only know a miniscule part of their middle aged mothers lives, various vignettes tell their younger stories in China and early days in America. The multiple point of views from mothers and daughters allow viewers to discern their own perspectives on generational and cultural connections.
Based on Amy Tan’s 1989 novel by the same name, the film exemplifies how complicated a mother-daughter relationship can be. With a predominantly Asian cast, the 1993 classic laid the groundwork for highlighting Asian characters with more depth. Over two decades later, The Joy Luck Club remains reflective of the everyday love, disappointment, and hope that a mother can have for their daughter. The Joy Luck Club is available for streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. — A.S
The Wild Robot
Last year DreamWorks returned with a film that can be enjoyed not only by children but also with their moms. Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) is a robot who washes up on a remote island and must learn to survive. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she finds an orphaned young bird, Brightbill (Kit Connor), and assumes the role of its mother. She faces several struggles as a first-time mother and even skepticism and hostility from the other animals, as she lacks understanding and experience. However, we see Roz learn from her environment and eventually grow into her role as the bird’s mother.
Despite being a robot, Roz’s dedication to nurturing and protecting Brightbill shows that motherhood is less about the act of birthing and more about care, growth, and sacrifices. The Wild Robot is a fresh take on motherhood emphasizes how love and resilience can bridge even the widest of gaps. The Wild Robot is available on various streaming platforms. — C. A.
The Letdown
For the first-time mothers who want some comfort, laughs, and support, the 2017 Australian comedy series, The Letdown, checks all the boxes. Audrey Holloway (Alison Bell) is new at motherhood with her two-month-old baby, Stevie, launching her straight into an identity crisis — where’s the manual for parenting?
Exhausted and dearly missing her old, childless lifestyle, Audrey grudgingly joins a support group for new parents. She forgets to bring Stevie to the first meeting, and getting judged by others is quickly becoming her new norm. It’s a rough start, but through meetings and mishaps, Audrey learns to navigate the ins and outs of motherhood, including her husband, in-laws, fellow mothers, and strangers who suddenly become parenting experts.
Available on Netflix, The Letdown isn’t at all a letdown. The two-season show is witty and therapeutic, learning that no one has it all together. It’s raw and most definitely too real but refreshing to watch at the same time. — K.Y
Stepmom and Daughter Blues
In 2018, it was announced that the manga series Stepmom and Daughter Blues (or Gibo to Musume no Burūsu) by Sakurazawa Suzu would be adapted into a TBS television series of the same name. Stepmom and Daughter Blues follows Akiko Iwaki (Haruka Ayase), a career woman who is newly engaged to Ryoichi Miyamoto (Yutaka Takenouchi), a single father to his eight-year-old daughter Miyuki Miyamoto (Naho Yokomizo, elementary; Moka Kamishiraishi, high school).
Their union does not go smoothly, as Miyuki’s mother passed away when she was only five years old, and she is not yet settled on the idea of welcoming someone else in her place. Akiko, who has never had children before, earnestly studies child psychology to better understand Miyuki and to further gain her approval. Thinking they can trick Miyuki into accepting her impending fate, Ryoichi and Akiko devise several plans to make her wish for a mother figure in her life. However, their efforts get completely obliterated as Miyuki sees right through it all.
As the ten-episode series progresses, viewers see Akiko’s continued struggle to not only gain Miyuki’s approval but to adjust to several parental duties. It is a wonder why an independent and successful woman like Akiko would take on such a drastic life change, but through her journey of motherhood, she gains a sense of self that she previously lacked. Stepmom and Daughter Blues is available now on Netflix. — E.M
Minari
In Minari (2020), the story of the Korean immigrant experience takes on a powerful emotional depth quite literally through the eyes of Monica Yi (Yeri Han). The film opens with a close up of Monica’s eyes in a rearview mirror showcasing a range of emotions loaded with worry, love, disappointment, and quiet resolve. This quick glance alone encapsulates the complexity of the immigrant mother’s journey. Han brings the character of Monica to life in a quiet but powerful way becoming the emotional center of the film. She shows what many immigrant mothers go through as they try to build a better life for their children by setting aside their own hopes.
Abruptly moving from California to rural Arkansas in the 1980s to follow David’s (Steven Yeun) dreams, the Yi family is tested through financial strains, failed plans, and isolation from a life they used to know. Things begin to change when Monica’s mother Soon-ja (Youn Yuhjung) arrives from Korea to help with the children. Although David is initially hesitant, he eventually bonds with her especially when she plants minari, a resilient Korean herb by the creek. As the family faces setbacks, including a barn fire and Soon-ja’s stroke they find support in one another. Harvesting the thriving minari is a symbol of hope, endurance, and family roots.
The film is not just about chasing the American dream, it’s also about what people, especially mothers, have to give up and teach along the way. Monica and Soon-ja’s pain, strength, and love are all shown through small meaningful moments. Through their characters, the film honors the strength and sacrifices of mothers in a way that’s deeply moving and unforgettable. — H.N
DÌDI
In DIDI, director Sean Wang tells a heartfelt coming-of-age story centered on the complex relationships between 13-year-old Chris Wang (Izaac Wang) and everyone around him, from his friends and older sister, to his mother Chungsing (Joan Chen). Set in 2008 California, Chris navigates the turbulence of adolescence, from fitting in with older skaters to dealing with a crush. Amid these growing pains, his relationship with his mother becomes increasingly strained as they clash over his attempts to embrace American culture while she holds on to their Taiwanese roots.
As Chris struggles to balance peer pressure and cultural expectations, , he also starts to notice the tension between his mother and grandmother, realizing that generational and cultural differences run deeper than he first thought. And Chungsing still works tirelessly to support their family, often at the cost of understanding her son’s inner world. Through moments of conflict and tenderness, DIDI explores how family bonds can stretch and strengthen under the weight of those generational and cultural differences. The film’s portrayal of a mother and son learning to see each other beyond their struggles makes it a must watch for anyone who’s navigated messy family dynamics. — Davonna Gilpin
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