“Everybody’s surprisingly close to this story – it’s just something we don’t talk about much”: Savanah Leaf on Earth Mama

Earth Mama is the feature debut from writer-director Savanah Leaf based on a short film made with Taylor Russell, The Heart Still Hums, capturing in vivid detail the challenges a single pregnant mother faces with Child Protective Services. It follows Gia (Tia Nomore) who is pregnant with two kids in foster care and must tolerate endless harsh bureaucratic realities in order to see them and avoid the same fate for her yet-to-born third. Blending naturalistic detail and performances that draw on personal experiences, with elements of magic realism conjuring the inner life of Gia on an emotional level, this is a poignant, affecting and original film that resists easy categorisation but cannot fail but the foster empathy.

The Upcoming had an in-depth chat with Leaf about her first feature and why she was compelled to make it. She emphasised the film’s aim to foster conversation around often-ignored issues facing disadvantaged and black mothers and detailed the naturalistic casting process, particularly praising lead actress Tia’s performance. Leaf also touched on the challenges and highlights of directing, and the importance of portraying the complex emotions of motherhood and the broader societal impacts of supporting mothers.

Sarah Bradbury

Earth Mama is released nationwide on 8^th December 2023.

Watch the trailer for Earth Mama here: