Mommy

The events unfold in 2015 within a fictional outcome of the Canadian federal election. A controversial law, S-14, grants authority to place troubled children in hospitals, shaping the family’s crisis and legal battles. The timeframe focuses on a tense period where personal hardship collides with national political debates. This positioning grounds the drama in a contemporary social context.

Saint-Hubert is a suburban city in Quebec, part of the Greater Montreal area, providing a quiet residential backdrop for the Després family. The story unfolds across a local neighborhood with schools and community spaces, anchoring the characters in a relatable, everyday setting. The setting emphasizes a working-class milieu where family strain, finances, and social services intersect amid a larger political backdrop.

💔 Motherhood

Die fights to keep her family together under financial strain and a system that complicates care. Her fierce love for Steve drives morally ambiguous choices and sacrifices. The film examines the cost of protecting a child with complex needs and the emotional toll on a parent.

⚖️ Justice

S-14 introduces a legal framework that can override family autonomy, placing a vulnerable child under hospital care with limited due process. Die's legal push, the neighbor-lawyer dynamic, and the looming lawsuit highlight tensions between care, safety, and rights. The story questions whether policy can substitute for individualized, humane treatment.

🧠 Mental Health

Steve's ADHD and attachment disorder propel the plot and strain the mother–son relationship. His behavior provokes fear and misinterpretation, illustrating how neurodiversity is navigated under pressure. Kyla's involvement offers support but also underscores the fragility of stability in a crisis.

🌤️ Hope & Despair

The trio experiences moments of progress, soon tempered by fear and the sense of overwhelming odds. The faux picnic and subsequent hospital intervention reveal the moral and emotional costs of attempting drastic solutions. The ending lingers between faint hope and unresolved tragedy, leaving Steve’s fate uncertain.