The Mothers' Triangle 2005
Distributed by Fanlight Productions, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Inbal Goldstein and Rhonda Celester
Directed by Inbal Goldstein and Rhonda Celester
DVD, color, 66 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Sociology, Psychology, Parenting, Adolescence
Date Entered: 05/16/2006
Reviewed by Ernarosa Tominich, MLS, Trocaire College Library, Buffalo NYThis excellent documentary deals with the multi-faceted complexities and consequences of unwed teen pregnancy.
Christina is an unwed teenager whose mother also had her as a result of a teen pregnancy. As they share a household, no clear boundaries and plenty of subtle manipulations exist between Christina and Mary, her mother. Both want to be good mothers and are sincere in their efforts, but each woman brings her own personal problems to the situation.
Christina deals with anger management issues along with the pressures of her role as a student and new mother. Mary on the other hand, suffers from depression, and low self-esteem. Mary has come to believe that her daughter, Christina, and her son, no longer love her. Moreover, Mary’s stepfather sexually abused her. As a result of all this, Mary clings to her new grandson, Cristian and sees in him a way to rectify all her past mistakes. Conflicts arise however as Chistina struggles with her mother’s interference in the parenting of Cristian. Eventually Christina moves in with a physically abusive boyfriend who breaks her arm. As a result of this incident and the fact that Mary tries to file child neglect charges against her, Christina moves out of state.
The Mother’s Triangle is highly recommended for all libraries and for coursework and discussion on family dynamics including complex problems related to teenage pregnancy as well as consequences of sexual and physical abuse. The quality, sound, and technical aspects are professionally executed.