Opening Image

We see a woman accept her demise as she’s consumed by flames. The title card tells us that the woman was Mother, or at least a version of her

Set Up

We see a man place a crystal on a pedestal in a burned down house, after he does so the house morphs back into its former state of perfection. The man is meant to represent God and the crystal represents the Apple of Eden, the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. In the movie, God is portrayed as a poet, as in someone who creates works of art, just as God created Earth and everything in it.

One of his creations is Mother, who represents Mother Nature and the other is the house they live in which represents Earth in its entirety. The second she wakes up we see her searching the house for God, this tells us about the love and devotions she has for him, however this is often not reciprocated as throughout the movie we see God appear to be distant and uninterested, this represents his lack of satisfaction in the world he has created despite its immense beauty. His dissatisfaction is further depicted in the form of writer’s block.

Theme

Mother is seen mixing plaster trying to find the right color for the walls. As she does, we see her place her hands on the walls and feel a heart-like organ beating through the walls. This tells us that the house is an extension of who she is, just as all plant and animal life on Earth is tied to Mother Nature. We see her settle on a brighter color as she hopes to create a paradise, telling us what the story is about and the challenges she will have to face to protect it.

Catalyst

A stranger arrives at their door, this is Adam, the first man God had created. He states that he’s an orthopedic surgeon, who is someone who specializes in bones and muscles, this is because God created Eve, the first woman with one of Adam’s ribs. Furthermore, he states he mostly does research and teaching these days which represents the acts of the first man exploring the Earth and imparting the knowledge he has gained to his descendants.

Debate

While Mother is reluctant about letting a stranger into their house, God appears to be extremely welcoming and hospitable.

Adam mistakes Mother to be God’s daughter which tells us about man’s lack of respect for nature, such rude remarks will further be made by other humans in the movie implying the same arrogance. Mother offers Adam tea (composed of natural ingredients: water and leaves) but he’s later seen drinking from a flask (alcohol being artificially produced by man and tied to addiction which in turn is tied to self destruction).

Adam’s presence appears to cause a sharp pain in Mother’s chest, throughout the pain we hear the sound of a heart beating, telling us that this affects the house as well. This is further highlighted by her breaking a cup.

While together, God remarks that Mother isn’t much of a drinker when Adam offers her the flask, Mother disagrees, possibly hinting at how most forms of alcohol are derived from natural ingredients like fruits and grains. Adam states that he still has a long way to go with his research implying that he’s just been introduced to Earth and has much to learn.

God insists that Adam spend the night with them, without consulting Mother first. Adam agrees and starts coughing, hinting that he’s brought disease and sickness onto the Earth. He’s also a smoker (another self destructive addiction) and tosses a cigarette outside the house without putting it out first (an act that can lead to a fire)

Break into Two

Mother heads to the basement to get some sheets and hears rumbling behind a wall. This wall appears to be peculiar as it seems to have been hastily sealed off with a coat of cement (more on this later). Near the end we find out that this is where the fire that destroyed the house the last time originated, acting as a warning of what is to come if they continue on the path they’re on.

B Story

Adam is shown to be drawn towards the crystal, this aspect focuses on man’s insatiable desires and their self destructive nature which acts as an antagonistic force towards Mother’s goal of creating paradise.

God talks about losing everything in the fire that destroyed his house, only to regain hope when he found the crystal amidst the ashes. He credits Mother with “breathing life into every room” which refers to nature creating a lush and green world. Adam starts coughing again and asks for more alcohol instead of water.

Fun and Games

Later that night, Mother sees that God still hasn’t come to bed. She sees Adam’s clothes tossed around and cigarette butts inside the house despite telling him not to smoke indoors. She finds him throwing up in the washroom as God helps him, she notices a wound on his back, which hints at him missing a rib which was used to create Eve.

Mother then slides Adam’s lighter behind the bureau to prevent him from using it again. This is the first time she’s seen throwing away one of man’s belongings (more on this later). Her chest starts to hurt again and she notices a corner of the room turning dark for a few seconds. She’s seen drinking an elixir of sorts, though it’s never revealed as to what it is, elixirs are known to be made of natural ingredients which is why she drinks it, furthermore, when Eve asks her if she has any painkillers she says no as they’re artificially produced.

The next morning, Adam says that he slept really well and says that it must be the clean air, telling us that despite man’s heavy reliance on nature, he still abuses it. Eve arrives and just as she does, the fire alarm goes off, another foreshadowing.

At breakfast, Adam says he was used to being alone but when he met Eve it was love at first sight because they were literally made for each other. He talks about his two sons (Cain and Abel) and asks if they want children, God says yes which catches Mother by surprise as it’s the first she’s hearing of it, so far they’ve been on their own two paths: Mother busy with trying to build paradise and God trying to find inspiration for his next creation.

God and Adam continue to bond while Eve is constantly seen making a mess. They head to the basement to do laundry together and Eve comments on Mother’s underwear and compares it with her own. She says she needs to change to keep God interested in her, referring to how nature remains mostly the same while man’s wants and needs constantly change, she creates the impression in Mother that she’s lacking something which is why God is losing interest in her. Mother later throws Eve’s underwear behind the dryer, it’s the second time man tried to change nature in accordance with their ways. Lastly, Mother hears the rumbling again.

While trying to fix a clogged toilet, Mother notices something that resembles human organs, possibly a reference to how humans will soon take over the world as she finds pieces of them in places of the house she can’t even get to.

So far Eve is also shown to be nosy and inquisitive in nature which is tied to her persuading Adam to eat the Apple of Eden, according to the Bible. Mother also finds a picture of God in Adam’s bag so he knew exactly who they were when he arrived here and it tells us he worships God, which is exactly what God wants. Soon enough, Adam and Eve break the crystal and are banished from the “garden”, however, Eve shows little remorse for what’s happened.

Mother tries to get them to leave but instead catches Adam fingering Eve, she also notices the floorboards darkening. God angrily smashes the knob off the door of the “garden”, the impact of which leaves a permanent mark on the floor, symbolizing that the action of Adam and Eve has taken root in the world’s doom. However, despite it all God still refuses to kick them out as he still has love for them, having said that Eve outright refuses to leave.

Another stranger arrives, it’s Abel. Mother asks him what he’s doing here and he replies “what are any of us doing here”, as if he’s questioning the meaning of life and why God created them. Cain soon joins them and he’s enraged about being left out of Adam’s will, so much so that he loses control and kills Abel. God takes Abel to the hospital along with Adam and Eve, abandoning Mother when she needed him the most. We see an insect in the kitchen die, implying that the animal life has also been affected by man.

Additionally, so far the four humans have displayed behavior associated with the seven deadly sins: Adam shows pride when he hides his illness and the real reason why he showed up at their home, Eve shows gluttony by constantly drinking even during the day, Adam and Eve both show sloth by making a mess everywhere they go and lust for each other, Cain shows greed and envy due to the will and both Cain and Abel show wrath when they fight each other.

Midpoint

Mother washes away the spilled blood but a stain remains as it was the first heinous crime committed on Earth, this has an impact on the heart of the house as well. The wood where the blood was spilled starts to rot and blood begins to drip down to the basement forming an outline around the portion of the wall that was seemingly sealed in a hurry. Mother is able to break through the wall and finds a tank of oil hidden behind it.

Back upstairs she finds the picture of God has been torn and that horns were drawn on him, telling us that the unforgivable act of murder is what unleashed evil onto the world and someone just as powerful as God, the devil. Cain breaks into the house just to take Adam’s wallet, seeing that God has abandoned Mother he remarks that maybe she does understand how he feels.

God returns home and asks Mother to take a shower with him, she takes a minute to cover the stain on the floor but when he reaches upstairs she sees that God has already showered and gone to bed without her.

Bad Guys Close In

A group of people arrive unannounced to mourn for Cain where God recites poetry, this tells us that his time with the people has given him the inspiration to write again. He goes on to say that the sound of them crying is the sound of humanity, while it’s meant to show that the fact the the people mourn for someone means they are human but in this context it means that humans have done nothing but bring sorrow to the world (more on this later). A guest passes drinks around and hands one to Mother as well and while everyone downs their drinks, the cupbearer keeps looking at Mother until she drinks as well.

She soon finds guests smoking in the house, going around to rooms they aren’t supposed to, constantly sitting on a sink that hasn’t been braced yet and one guest even starts painting the walls the same dull color Mother had rejected earlier all this represents the negative effects the growth of the human race has had on the Earth. Eve remarks how a mother “gives and gives but it’s never enough” which is in reference to mankind’s greed.

After ordering everyone to leave, Mother criticizes God for encouraging their behavior to which he reacts that he feels like he’s suffocating in their house and how “life doesn’t work out the way you want it to”. Their argument leads to sex and the next morning Mother wakes up knowing she’s pregnant. On hearing the news, God is immediately struck with inspiration and begins writing, while Mother remarks she’s going to “get started on the apocalypse”.

She’s also seen flushing away the rest of the elixir believing that things have changed for the better and the replacement of the rotten floorboards points towards a better future. God completes his poem which is about rebuilding the world with Mother. It moves her to tears but soon finds out that his publisher has read it before her.

All is Lost

Mother notices a blood stain on the rug but not on the floorboard and soon enough it begins to spread as people arrive in large numbers having been greatly impacted by the word of God.

The “guests” begin to wreak havoc but God doesn’t seem bothered by it as he enjoys the attention. They soon begin to steal souvenirs just as people who visit places of religious significance do and also represents people ravaging the Earth’s resources.

God accidentally leaves an ink smudge on a follower’s forehead and soon they all ask for one just like it, representing the symbol of the cross which bears great significance. In another room, a zealot is seen leading a formation dance in God’s honor. Another zealot is seen applying the same mark on the foreheads of others, just as a priest does when they perform baptisms.

More chaos ensues and having run out of souvenirs, the people begin breaking off pieces of the house itself. Other acts of violence are depicted like riots, police brutality, human trafficking violent protests, executions etc. Only one riot officer tries to help Mother but is soon shot dead, creating a kill or be killed situation.

Dark Night of the Soul

With the baby on its way, God guides Mother through a huge crowd of refugees, ignoring the cries of help in favor of protecting Mother, this act tells us there may be hope for Earth. As he breaks down the barricade he had erected, emphasis is drawn towards him kicking the photos of himself that his followers had pasted, hinting that he may finally be renouncing mankind.

Break into Three

She gives birth to a son, representing Jesus Christ, who was born to give mankind a second chance by ridding them of their sins. Furthermore, Mother Nature being depicted as one of his parents possibly references that Jesus’ mother was human, as in someone belonging to Earth.

Finale

Gifts are left at their door, similar to how the three wise men brought offerings during the birth of Christ. Mother pleads with God to make the people go away but he still refuses saying they aren’t doing anything, just waiting outside i.e. waiting for the son of God to save them.

After a day, Mother dozes off due to exhaustion, during which God takes the baby out to the world, the people pass the baby around and accidentally snap his neck. The zealot is heard repeating what God had said earlier about the weeping of the people being the sounds of humanity. The death of the baby at the hands of the people represents the death of Jesus who was born for the purpose of dying for the sins of man. Mother makes her way through the crowd only to find the people eating the corpse of the child, this represents the communion in which bread which is believed to be the body of Christ is consumed.

However, Mother begins to kill the people in a fit of rage only for them to outnumber her and beat her. Finally God intervenes but says that the death of their child cannot be for nothing and that they must find a way to forgive them, similar to when Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” when he was impaled on the cross. Having said that, mother’s heart stops beating as she’s had enough and we see nature’s fury unleashed. She burns down the house by starting a fire in the same spot as her last incarnation.

As the smoke settles, we see God has been unaffected by the whole thing and tells the dying Mother that he as a creator relies on hunger and dissatisfaction, because if he ever thought something was enough then he would have nothing more to create and would lose his sole purpose. He says this knowing he has no other option but to start over.

Closing Image

He reaches into her chest and pulls out a crystal from the remains of her heart. He recreates the opening image by placing it on a pedestal, fixing the house and creating a new Mother. The cycle continues…