Priyanka is a rebellious Indian-American woman who must return to India. Her mother recently passed away, and she is going back to immerse her mother's ashes. When she arrives, she receives a warm welcome, but she can tell something is off. Soon she discovers that her family -- her father, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins -- have kept a serious secret from her. Priyanka is distraught, and her relations with her family become fractious, and the conflict reveals long-standing grievances and differences.
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But as they grieve for Priyanka's mother, they find they need one another more than ever. Directed and written by Urvashi Pathania, this funny yet touching short family dramedy possesses a beautifully specific portrayal of contemporary Indian life and society and a moving portrait of love, death and grief. Shot in Rajasthan, India, the film is told through the eyes of Priyanka as she takes in a context that is both familiar and new in many ways. She knows the language and customs, but with her mother's death, the emotional terrain is strange. But Priyanka is different as well -- her sense of humor is just a little off in comparison to her family, she's dressed a little differently and she's more forthright in her emotional expression. All these differences are captured in the visually lucid direction and the subtle, engaging writing, which juxtaposes moments of humor with sincere emotion and moves us along as Priyanka grapples with grief. Priyanka finds herself angry at her mother for deceiving and depriving her of time together; she's mad at her family for hiding the truth. As Priyanka, actor Sharayu Mahale offers an emotionally grounded performance that balances humor and grief and anchors us even during the more outright comedic flourishes. When Priyanka discovers one final indignity, she literally takes matters into her own hands and finds herself messing up in a major way. Warmly compelling and tenderhearted, UNMOTHERED is gently quirky in its mix of characters and personalities, affectionately finding comedy in their differences. But it's also heartfelt in its portrayal of bereavement, especially as it deepens beyond familial foibles into a sensitive, empathetic examination of how we face death -- or how we can't. In the end, the film has the compassion to understand how sometimes confusing choices are made and upheld both out of a sense of respect, fear and even loyalty. Part of Priyanka's journey in grief is coming to understand that, to express her sorrow and to let go of hurt and anger, allowing in love and reverence.
