Kate Dolan’s You Are Not My Mother follows a family whose mom disappears and returns… different. It plays opening night of this year’s Capital Irish Film Festival (along with opening night film Redemption of a Rogue). Irish writer and director Dolan has helmed several short films, but You Are Not My Mother is her first feature. Using horror, folk tales, and social realism, Dolan studies the effects of mental illness, generational trauma, and mother-daughter relationships. Last year, after premiering at Toronto International Film Festival, it became runner-up for the Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award. Elevated horror isn’t the only genre represented at the 16th annual fest—others include documentary, dark comedy, romantic comedy (à la Gabriel Byrne’s latest, Death of a Ladies’ Man), and two short film programs. Drama lovers should pencil in Foscadh, Ireland’s 2021 Oscar submission for Best International Film. In Irish with English subtitles, Foscadh is the coming-of-age story of John Cunliffe, a newly orphaned young adult living in rural mountain Ireland and grappling with the loss of his parents while trying to keep his land from developers. March 3 to 6 at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. $120.
For more film recommendations check out our calendar.