Motherboard
In the vein of the Up series and Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, Victoria Mapplebeck’s moving documentary, Motherboard, explores the complexities of single motherhood. At 38, Mapplebeck was impregnated by a man she’d been on four dates with. Working as a TV director at the time, she had no savings, no pension and no maternity leave, making new motherhood all the more challenging.
Shot in a scrapbook style, Mapplebeck’s earthy narration is juxtaposed against footage of her son, Jim, from infancy into his 20s. Initially, her struggles are exacerbated by her ex having no interest in meeting his child, and later by a breast cancer diagnosis.
A scene in which she looks at her microscopic cancer cells, fluorescent pink and almost dancing, is eerily beautiful. In an evocative moment of self-reflection, she ruminates on foetal remnants of her son mingling with the cancer cells. It’s evident that, since his birth, Jim has been the centre of her world. Her diagnosis threw doubt on the longevity of that bond, and it’s heartbreaking to witness the pair’s despair so viscerally laid bare.
Choking through tears, Mapplebeck admits that she fears not being able to see her son into adulthood. It’s this harrowing honesty that makes Motherboard stand out. Most mainstream films and documentaries about the tribulations of motherhood depict it in a far more palatable way. But Mapplebeck has no desire to be palatable: this is a warts-and-all depiction of raising a son as a lone parent.
At times, the film veers close to voyeurism. For instance, the inclusion of a furious, expletive-filled phone call from a teenage Jim to his mother feels like something that the public didn’t need to see. Likewise, there’s something incredibly uncomfortable about seeing Jim’s texts to friends and increasing anger towards his absent father. However, it’s the price for a raw and honest decades-long narrative.
Watching Mapplebeck and Jim’s relationship evolve across 20 years makes for a fascinating watch. A powerful, no-frills portrait of single motherhood, Motherboard is a frank and emotionally rewarding experience.
Antonia Georgiou
Motherboard is released nationwide on 15th August 2025.
Watch the trailer for Motherboard here:
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