MOTHER’S BABY

(director/writer: Johanna Moder; screenwriter: Arne Kohlweyer; cinematographer: Robert Oberrainer; editor: Karin Hammer; music: Diego Ramos Rodriguez; cast: Claes Bang (Dr. Vilfort), Julia Franz Richter (Gerlinde), Marie Leuenberger (Julia), Hans Low (Georg); Runtime: 108; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Sabine Moser, Oliver Neumann; Tell Film/Match Factory; 2025-Austria, Germany, Switzerland, in German with English subtitles)

“Sinister maternity drama on being a new parent.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Austrian director-writer Johanna Moder (“High Performance”/”Once were Rebels”) and co-writer Arne Kohlweyer present this sinister maternity drama on being a new parent.

The 40-year-old successful orchestra leader Julia (Marie Leuenberger) and her businessman husband Georg (Hans Low) go for a pregnancy consultation to the Vienna private fertility clinic run by the weird Dr, Vilfort (Claes Bang, Danish actor) and she becomes pregnant as he uses his innovative secret method. After giving birth the baby is taken from her because of complications. When returned to her bedside the baby is smaller than when delivered. She thinks they switched babies, but can’t prove it and no one believes her.

Vilford’s fertility clinic is a dirty place turning out experimental weird babies who don’t cry and are easy to please, in other words the type of baby that can be called a Mother’s Baby.

At home Julia’s baby boy is looked after by the clinic’s loyal midwife (Julia Franz Richter), who keeps reassuring Julia everything is fine even if the baby is always calm. What’s also odd is that Julia’s husband loves the nameless baby (not named after home for weeks) more than he loves her (Is he part of the possible conspiracy?). Julia remains confused as no one listens to her pleas, but she knows something is not right in Vienna.

The psychological thriller is no masterpiece like the same themed Rosemary’s Baby even if it’s ok as a chilling and well-acted weird horror pic. But it wasn’t so convincing as much as it was a promising idea that had a little gravitas and not much of an emotional impact. It’s most curious touch was having the Mexican tailed amphibian axoloti play an important role at the clinic.

It played at the Berlin Film Festival.


REVIEWED ON 3/8/2025  GRADE: B-
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