Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother carries the weight and the importance of the hadith it draws its origin from.
Director and writer, Bassam Tariq brings to the screen the complexities of religion, life, and obligation in this 2026 TIFF premiere. Starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali as Latif, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is a thought-provoking journey. This film examines the weight that comes with being a parent, a religious devotee, and a human being.
Photo Courtesy: TIFF
Indeed, death can bring challenges that we expect and those we do not. With the death of his wife, played by Shakirah DeMesier, Latif is trying to manage parenting his three children. One of them happens to be his infant, breastfed daughter who now needs breast milk. Under normal circumstances, this would be hard. However, trying to do this and walk away from being a contract killer makes this task extremely difficult.
Still, Latif tries to overcome challenges to keep his family together. In addition to managing the emotional changes in his oldest daughter and the curiosity of his younger son, Latif faces known and unknown foes. An example is Mike, a former partner and friend turned enemy. When Latif declines to protect Mike’s nephew from a vengeance-seeking Pastor-cowboy, Hwan Yoon (played by John Cho), things take an ugly turn.
Photo Courtesy: TIFF
Through the movie we see Latif try to compartmentalize his role as father, widower, man of faith and contract killer. However, under stress, these all eventually collide. Underneath the complex dynamics of the relationships on screen, the film is asking serious questions. One being: what happens when faith drives away those whom it aims to help?
Throughout Latif’s journey, we join him with incredible camera angles and a story line that carries the weight of the situation. On the other side of the journey is redemption, but at a cost. Mahershala Ali breathes life into the story of Latif with his signature intensity. Meanwhile, co-star Adia gives a stunning performance as the daughter of Latif. Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother will make its theatrical release in the US on September 25.
