By Kyle Flynn

In A Mother Apart, director Laurie Townshend takes on a deeply personal and emotionally charged story, following Jamaican-American poet and activist Staceyann Chin as she attempts to reconnect with her estranged mother. The documentary explores heavy themes—abandonment, intergenerational trauma, motherhood, and identity—with moments of great poignancy. But while the film has undeniable heart and intention, it doesn’t always land with the impact it reaches for.

Staceyann Chin is impossible to look away from. Her presence in A Mother Apart is magnetic—fierce, vulnerable, and deeply honest. Through powerful spoken word and quiet, emotional moments, she opens up about being a queer single mother while still processing the pain of growing up without one. The film is at its best when it gives her space to just be: speaking, grieving, questioning, and performing. Her story is rich and layered, and it’s one that absolutely deserves the spotlight.

That said, the film’s structure doesn’t always do her justice. It jumps between past and present in ways that can feel more confusing than poetic. The emotional content is heavy, and while Chin’s reflections are compelling, the storytelling sometimes lacks the clarity that might have helped viewers stay grounded in her journey.

Visually, there’s a quiet beauty to the film. Director Laurie Townshend handles the material with care, and the use of archival footage and home videos gives it an intimate, lived-in feel. But at times, the documentary leans a little too hard on artistic flourishes—lingering shots and abstract sequences—that don’t always offer the context or depth you might be craving. This is especially true when it comes to Hazel, Chin’s estranged mother, whose absence hangs over the film like a ghost.

The documentary makes a clear effort not to vilify Hazel, but it also doesn’t give us much to understand her. There’s a sense that the filmmakers chose ambiguity over exploration, and while that might reflect the reality of Chin’s experience, it leaves a big emotional question mark that never quite gets filled in.

It’s not a perfect film—some parts feel unfinished or underexplored—but it’s a meaningful one. If you’re drawn to personal storytelling, queer family dynamics, or stories about healing generational trauma, it’s well worth your time.

Still, A Mother Apart is a raw and honest look at how childhood wounds shape the way we love and parent. Chin’s story is full of contradictions—grief and joy, rage, and forgiveness—and it’s those contradictions that make it so compelling. She invites us into her pain, but also her strength, and that’s what stays with you.

3 stars