These television shows and films explore mother-daughter relationships, with lessons centered on sacrifice and unconditional love.
In film and television, numerous stories portray the intricate dynamics of mother-daughter relationships across generations. These cinematic creations encapsulate the spectrum of emotions, from heartwarming moments, arguments, and the tumultuous journey of understanding and reconciliation.
These films and television shows will remind audiences of the power of love, resilience, and the timeless bond between mothers and daughters.
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Grandma, Ming, and Meilin Lee – “Turning Red”
Animated film Turning Red chronicled the life of young Meilin Lee, who lives her life to make her mother, Ming, proud. She hides her personal interests from her mother as well as her circle of friends, fearing she disapproves of her lifestyle. Ming is overprotective and uptight, but only because she loved her daughter so much.
One night, Meilin dreamed about red pandas. She woke up the next morning and discovered she turned into one. She discovered she only transforms when she’s highly emotional, so she tries to contain her feelings to prevent turning into a red panda. Ming and Meilin’s dad, Jin, explained their ancestor, Sun Yee, granted the power to protect her daughters and her village during war time, and only her female descendants will transform.
Somewhere along the story, Meilin discovered that she was truly happy when she was in her red panda state. Not only that: she was in a state of tranquility when her friends are with her. She decided to keep her red panda spirit, enraging her mother Ming.
The two get into a fighting match but after the drama and the disruptions that came with it, Meilin discovers Ming was hard on her because she was also trying to earn her mother’s approval. Turning Red is a heartwarming story bringing hope that someday, the chain of generational trauma will break, and nothing but unconditional love will remain.
Evelyn and Joy Wang – “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Everything Everywhere All at Once is the story of a Chinese immigrant, Evelyn Wang who went across universes and connected with the lives she could have lived.
She encountered a version of her husband during an audit, who propelled her into other realities. These scenes revealed that her daughter, Joy, is a multiverse-threatening supervillain.
The film then divulged that its story revolves around Evelyn’s struggles to connect with Joy, who grew distant towards her as she traversed a chaotic life. She realized Joy’s conflicts come from their estrangement. She ends up embracing every version of herself in the multiverses and does everything in her power to pull Joy back from the darkness. In the end, Evelyn confronts her fractured relationship with her daughter and makes amends.
Rosie and Willowdean Dickson – “Dumplin’”
Dumplin’ shows the mother-daughter dynamic of Willowdean and Rosie Dickson. Willowdean, called Dumplin’ by her mom, Rosie, is a plus-size teenager who decided to enter her mother’s beauty pageant. It started when she found an application for the Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant, an event which her mother joined and won.
She wondered if her late aunt Lucy never entered due to her plus size figure. In honor of her aunt, she joins the pageant as a protest with her best friend Ellen, and two other unlikely candidates, Millie and Hannah.
Willowdean found herself against what her mother stands for: conventional attractiveness and unattainable beauty standards, and caring about what others think. These aspects added tension to their relationship. The film revealed that Rosie acted like she did as she wanted to protect her daughter as the world was hard for big girls. The two gradually began to make amends, while Willowdean owned her uniqueness and embraced her identity.
Tess and Anna Coleman – “Freaky Friday”
Freaky Friday told the story of Anna Coleman, a teenager who only wants to play with her band and be noticed by Jake, a boy she likes at school. However, her mom, Tess, always messes with her life: her mom decides to remarry, cuts her band practice hour, takes her door away, thinks her music is noise, and prevents her from going to a battle of the bands contest.
Their constant bickering even extended to a Chinese restaurant where their family ate for dinner, where it led them to cryptic fortunes. They exchanged bodies the next day and had to live each other’s lives.
This situation led them to understanding each other more, and finally realizing that love is sacrifice and acceptance. Both were willing to do both regardless of if they will change back in time before Tess’ marriage, signifying how strong love is between mothers and daughters.
Devi and Dr. Nalini Vishwakumar – “Never Have I Ever”
Never Have I Ever is a four-season television series that narrated the high school adventures of Devi Vishwakumar. She lost her father, Mohan, while she was performing at school, which traumatized her. It was also where the cracks of her relationship with her mom, Nalini, began, as both women navigated their grief.
Nalini was an overbearingly strict mom with Devi, who also had her share of unhinged behaviors. They often didn’t view things the same way so they would resort to arguments. However, by the time Devi is about to embark on her college journey, she realized that she was not yet ready to leave her mom. Nalini also discovered, thanks to her mother in law, Nirmala, that Devi is just a kid. She loved and cared for her deeply–as any mom would feel towards her child.
Moira and Alexis Rose – “Schitt’s Creek”
Schitt’s Creek depicted the story of the once-wealthy Rose family, who have been stripped off their fortune due to their business manager committing fraud. They don’t have a choice but to rebuild their lives with their sole remaining asset, a small town named Schitt’s Creek, a birthday gift meant to be a joke, from Johnny Rose to his son, David.
They relocated to the creek and moved into two adjacent rooms in a motel, and adjusted their lives accordingly with the locals.
The television show not only discussed the foursome’s relationship with each other. It also tackled the relationship of Moira Rose, the mom, and her daughter, Alexis. They did not care for each other when they had wealth and never had a chance to get to know each other deeply. As the series progressed, they slowly found their way back to caring for one another, strengthening their mother-daughter relationship.
Emily, Lorelei, and Rory Gilmore – “Gilmore Girls”
Gilmore Girls is a story centered around the lives of Lorelei and Rory Gilmore who initiated Friday night dinners with the Gilmores, or Lorelei’s family. She had a difficult relationship with them, particularly with her mother, Emily. However, she had to approach them to help her pay off Rory’s tuition fee at Chilton High School, and eventually, Yale University.
The television show explores the beautiful dynamic of Lorelei and Rory’s mother-daughter relationship. At the same time, it highlights how Emily and Lorelei gradually found acceptance that the past is long gone, paving the way for forgiveness.
An honorary mother-daughter relationship in Gilmore Girls is that of Mrs. Kim and her daughter, Lane, Rory’s best friend. Lane had a hard time growing up with her mother due to her strict, traditional Korean way of life and is often uptight with her and her relationships. Eventually, she tells her mother how she wants to live and at first they grew apart. But Mrs. Kim proved that mothers can’t be mad at their children forever, and their love and understanding will always prevail more than their beliefs.
You may complete a Gilmore Girls marathon by also watching Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life, a four-episode sequel.
Banner photo via Instagram @gilmoregirls.
