LETTERS TO MY MOTHER (2013)

Mabel (Paullina Oduro), a senior nurse, left her post to the city when she had a bitter grudge

 with a young nurse, Angie-played by Kafui Danku.

Nurse Mabel vowed to Angie never again to them meeting anywhere in life. And utter these 

departing words “Destiny fades that I set eyes on you again”

The mother and son love between Mabel and Mike

 (John Dumelo) was very strong. No matter the distance, they were writing letters to another. Mabel took good care of Mike’s fiancée Jane 

during his 5 years stay in Europe.

To the surprise of Mabel, Mike returned from Europe with a new girl who was carrying his baby.

 But to her dismay the lady turned out to be Angie, Mabel’s arch-enemy.

Despite Angie being pregnant with her grandchild Mabel couldn’t forgive her, 

let alone to wash away the past. Under that tension and pressure Mike got married to Angie.

Mabel couldn’t stomach it. One emotional trauma led to another. It was in this condition that she called her son. Handover a key 

to a box containing letters, she 

made Mike to swear only to open that box when she is dead.

For five years Mike has spoken no words to no one; except with his marker writing notes 

and messages on papers and walls, he was insane.

Dr. Jamal (Adjetey Annan) a foremost psychiatrist was called to 

the situation assisted by Lucy (Roselyn Ngissah) a clinical psychiatrist to unravel the mystery

 surrounding Mike’s insanity. The answers lay buried in letters to my mother.

The movie is tense and emotional one. The picture quality and the sound quality were 

okay going by our Ghanaian standards.

There was much talk of destiny in the film topped with the phrase “whatever will be, will be”

Doris Day’s (1936- ) song Que Sera, Sera would have been a perfect fit in enhancing 

the storyline, but my guess will be the film makers didn’t know a song like that existed. Below is the chorus;

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours, to see

Que Sera, Sera

What will be, will be.

The film was well researched, fine dialogues with psychological and philosophical undertones. And among the cast some used the Southern African accent.

Solomon Sampah the veteran actor was 

in there as a priest, no room for him to play out his sense of humour.

The film adores 5 years. Mike stayed

 in Europe for 5 years and at insanity hadn’t spoken for 5 years.

We are in the era of internet and smart phones. Letters to my Mother (2013) adopts letter writing or snail mail- as it being called now- as the mode of 

communication. The film’s settings weren’t reflective of the snail mail era.

The film can be categorized as a tragedy.

 Like all tragedies leaves sour taste in the mouth of the audience.

The tragedy could have been avoided, had Mike been re-united with the old fiancée, 

Jane who waited 5 years.

One, Mike would have honour the mother’s wish. Secondly Jane patience of 5 years rewarded. 

Additionally, it would have added more purpose and meaning to Mike’s life and 

finally fulfils the recurring phrase in the film, “Whatever will, be will be”