Moi, maman, ma mère et moi

This subject is so hackneyed that one can wonder how the producers can waste so much money for the story of the prodigal (or not) son who comes back to his home to find a disgruntled family who resents his not being present at the funeral of their mother a month ago.

However ,"Moi, maman, ma mère et moi" could have renewed this story told ,told and TOLD : the dead mom appears to her (ungrateful?) son,first fleetingly, then for conversations nobody hears but him and the siblings begin to think that their brother has gone nuts .This supernatural side is first bewildering : besides ,the son is introduced as a big kid ,whose room remains as untidy as when he was a teenager ,who knows where mom used to hide her chocolate ,and who often plays jig saw puzzle.

Heavy-handed symbolism too ! Benoit has to fit the pieces of the jigsaw (of his childhood) together again!There must be a secret in mom's life ,a secret hidden in his subconscious : clues are given to the viewer :a disabled man in his wheelchair,a cow, an island (very nice shots when they row the boat on the river ).

The "secret " is worthy of what the French call "Théâtre De Boulevard ";you 've got to be very naive to be stunned by the final unexpected twist "!and the hero's final phone call (now he's a man!) takes the biscuit .

A poor man's "bridges of Madison country",poor indeed.