The Creation of 'Mother Mary': A Soundtrack of Ecstasy and Emotion
In the world of cinema, the fusion of music and narrative can elevate a story to new heights. This is precisely what director David Lowery aimed for with his psychodrama Mother Mary, starring Anne Hathaway and featuring FKA twigs. The film's soundtrack, a collaborative effort by Jack Antonoff and Charli xcx, with contributions from twigs, has been acclaimed for its thunderous and emotional depth, painting a vivid portrait of a fictional pop diva.
From Pop Inspiration to Emotional Core
As Lowery crafted the character of Mother Mary, he delved into the last 25 years of music, drawing inspiration from artists like Taylor Swift, Lorde, and FKA twigs. However, as the love story between Mary (Anne Hathaway) and her designer friend Sam (Michaela Coel) unfolded, his focus shifted. The pop elements gave way to more introspective sounds, with James Blake and Aldous Harding capturing the raw emotion between the characters. Lowery explains, "They began to help me channel the feeling of the movie itself," highlighting how music became central to the film's emotional landscape.
Two Modes of Performance: Humanity and Divinity
The film contrasts two distinct modes: the intimate, broken humanity of Mary in Sam's atelier, where she pleads for a dress to spark her pop rebirth, and her god-like stage presence, commanding audiences with otherworldly magnetism. Hathaway faced the challenge of unlocking Mary's vulnerability, entering the project with limited knowledge of the songs, relying on early demos like Burial and Holy Spirit. She notes, "I felt like her sound was pretty low on the totem pole, especially when we began," emphasizing the gradual development of the character's musical identity.
Collaborative Soundtrack: From Cutting Room to Cult Following
While early reviews of the film are mixed, the music has garnered praise. Antonoff and xcx penned most of the soundtrack, but twigs contributed My Mouth Is Lonely for You, a shimmering track originally from her Eusexua sessions. Twigs reflects, "As soon as David said he needed a song, I knew I wrote it for a reason." Together, the songs create a uniform image of a 21st-century pop star—both mainstream and avant-garde, mirroring the careers of twigs and xcx, who have recently achieved Grammy wins and arena headlines.
Hathaway's Musical Journey: From Theater to Production
Despite her theater background and Oscar win for Les Misérables, Hathaway found the recording process for Mother Mary: Greatest Hits to be a novel experience. Working with Antonoff, she explored her vocal range and production techniques, even tweaking lyrics to align with her character's voice. Inspired by Tori Amos's Little Earthquakes, she focused on the emotional delivery of words, stating, "The way you perform the sound of a word is just as, if not more, important than the word itself."
The Unspoken Fandom: A Ghost in the Narrative
A key element of the film is the implied fandom surrounding Mother Mary, suggested through subtle cues rather than explicit exposition. Lowery avoided detailed explanations, letting performances and songs convey her cult-like appeal. Hathaway describes Mary's fans as "people who could feel safe around her," seeking ecstasy and acceptance. She adds, "She was twisting herself into this terrible state to avoid hurting them," highlighting the sacrificial nature of stardom.
Mother Mary: Greatest Hits releases on April 17, with the film hitting US cinemas on the same date, UK theaters on April 24, and Australian screens on May 14.
