Out of all the movies that we managed to miss at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Savanah Leaf’s Earth Mama was one of the ones we were most excited to check out. Leaf’s film — a sensitive portrait of a working mother fighting for her children and for their futures against all manner of challenges — was acclaimed, and if you’ve seen any of her music video work, you can probably tell why.
Leaf’s had one hell of an exciting life: She was, once upon a time, an Olympic-level Volleyball player who, actually, represented the UK at the London Games back in 2012. Over the following years, she made banger after banger in the music video world — including the vid for Gary Clark Jr.’s “This Land,” which got her a nod for Best Video at the Grammys — and we can’t wait to check out what a full-length narrative will look like with her in the director’s chair.
A24 dropped a trailer for the film earlier on Tuesday, and, just from this first look, it’s already shaping up to be something special. Take a look:
Because the A24 synopsis is, of course, nice and short, here’s some information from this year’s Sundance program:
“Gia is a young mother fighting for her children. Her son and daughter are in foster care, and now her unborn child could also be taken away. Struggling to work enough hours with court-mandated classes, she’s barely making ends meet. Gia loves her children unconditionally, but how will she give them the future they deserve?
Savanah Leaf’s directorial feature debut is an intimate depiction of a mother’s fear and love. Leaf’s elegant visual language interjects lush visions of hope and visceral manifestations of Gia’s deepest fears into her everyday life. Moving performances root the film in authenticity, including that of newcomer Tia Nomore, whose Gia is tender, conflicted, and layered. The warm texture of the film envelops us in Gia’s reality, while a knowing score smiles at the beauty of everyday moments.
Between the backdrops of Gia’s counseling classes and portrait studio job, Leaf crafts a story that redefines perspectives and asks us to bear witness — to vulnerability and the desire to be seen. Leaf’s permeating vision brings fullness and complexity to Gia, reclaiming her humanity and honoring the different forms love can take.”
Earth Mama will hit your local arthouse on July 7.