My Mom Jayne
Growing up without a mother is difficult enough. One can’t even begin to imagine how much harder it must be to cope when there are no personal memories to hold onto, only the constant bombardment of a public persona she once projected.
Mariska Hargitay is best known for starring in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, one of the longest-running live-action series on American television, and has previously produced the documentaries I Am Evidence and Emanuel. Now, she steps into the director’s chair to find out – and set the record straight – who her mother, the actress Jayne Mansfield, really was.
In a blend of narration and interview, Hargitay shares why it has taken her this long to come to terms with her mother’s legacy. Why, at age 60, she decided to go through her family’s storage unit, piece together what was already in her possession and set out to find more. She has managed to gather years’ worth of archival footage – of Mansfield’s early interviews, her films and the family’s personal photo albums. She also brings in family members to share their recollections of the woman once dubbed “Hollywood’s smartest dumb blonde”, as well as figures like her former press secretary, whom Hargitay doesn’t hesitate to call out for publishing exploitative literature after Jayne’s death.
As the director dissects the false voice her mother adopted to promote the films she was typecast in – that of the “blonde bimbo”, much like Marilyn Monroe – a paradigm shift occurs. She lets a scene from a talk show play out: her mother, eager to perform a piece on the violin. The audience laughs, expecting the talent to be a joke. Then comes the death blow from the host, who dismisses her interest in music with, “Who cares? Just kiss me!”
The actress-turned-filmmaker, who has spent the better part of her career battling sexual abuse, assault and harassment on television, is now faced with the reality that her own mother was one of the very victims her show revolves around. The editing weaves photography and moving image together fluently, even if the occasional segue feels patchy. Hargitay’s true strength behind the camera lies in her ability to speak to her interview subjects – the artistic standout of this true-to-tradition piece.
Does the reversal of tone in My Mom Jayne‘s final third – which includes a revelation of sorts – feel the slightest bit sensationalist? Yes, but it’s likely what secured the funding, or at the very least its HBO distribution deal. Is the film actively after the viewer’s tear ducts? Also yes. But it succeeds, with flying colours, as few will remain unmoved by this simultaneously personal and universal story about getting to know the person who made you, and keeping their memory alive.
Selina Sondermann
My Mom Jayne does not have a release date yet.
Read more reviews from our Cannes Film Festival coverage here.
For further information about the event visit the Cannes Film Festival website here.
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