"Loving people doesn't save them."
Mommy - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
The 1:1 Aspect Ratio
The square frame symbolizes confinement, claustrophobia, and emotional intensity. It forces the viewer into the characters' personal, constricted world, eliminating distractions and focusing entirely on their raw emotions. It mirrors the psychological state of the characters, trapped by their circumstances. The two moments where the frame expands to widescreen symbolize freedom, hope, and the possibility of a different, fuller life.
The 1:1 aspect ratio is used for the vast majority of the film. The most iconic scene involving this is when Steve, riding his skateboard to Oasis's "Wonderwall," physically pushes the sides of the screen outward, expanding the frame to 1.85:1 to signify a moment of pure euphoria and freedom. The frame constricts again after the hope of their situation is shattered by a lawsuit, and widens a final time during Die's imagined future for Steve.
The "Mommy" Necklace
The gold necklace Steve gives to Die is a complicated symbol of his love, devotion, and troubled nature. It is a heartfelt, genuine gesture of affection and an acknowledgment of her central role in his life. However, because it was stolen, it also represents his impulsivity and the criminality that is intertwined with his actions, foreshadowing how his destructive behavior ultimately undermines his good intentions.
Steve presents the stolen necklace to Die as a gift. Her initial reaction is anger at his stealing, which hurts him deeply as he was trying to show his love. The object becomes a tangible representation of their fraught dynamic: his desperate need for her approval and her struggle to manage his chaotic behavior.
Pop Music / Mixtape
The pop-centric soundtrack, presented as a mixtape from Steve's deceased father titled "Die & Steve Mix 4ever," symbolizes nostalgia, emotional release, and a connection to a happier past. The songs (like Céline Dion, Dido, Oasis, Lana Del Rey) are not just background music; they are an integral part of the characters' emotional expression, often providing an outlet for feelings they cannot otherwise articulate.
Music is a constant presence. The "Wonderwall" sequence is a moment of liberation. A karaoke scene where Steve sings goes disastrously wrong, leading to a fight. Ludovico Einaudi's "Experience" scores Die's fantasy of Steve's future. The film ends with Lana Del Rey's "Born to Die" as Steve makes a final, desperate bid for freedom.
Philosophical Questions
Is love enough to save someone?
The film relentlessly explores this question. Die operates on the conviction that her fierce, unconditional love for Steve is the one force that can save him. She sacrifices her job, her financial stability, and her personal safety for him. However, the narrative tragically concludes that love, while powerful, has its limits. It cannot cure Steve's severe behavioral disorders or protect him from a society unequipped to handle him. Kyla's line, "Loving people doesn't save them," serves as the film's heartbreaking thesis.
What is the nature of true freedom?
"Mommy" contrasts different forms of freedom. There is the literal freedom from institutional walls, which Steve constantly seeks. But the film is more interested in emotional and psychological freedom. The characters are confined by poverty, trauma, and their own intense emotions. The iconic scene where Steve pushes the screen open to a wide aspect ratio is a moment of pure, transcendent freedom—a temporary escape from their claustrophobic reality. The film suggests that true freedom might be fleeting, existing only in brief, euphoric moments rather than as a permanent state, especially for those trapped by circumstances beyond their control.
Core Meaning
The core meaning of "Mommy" revolves around the fierce, unconditional, and often destructive nature of maternal love. Director Xavier Dolan explores the idea that love, in its purest and most intense form, is not always enough to save someone. The film poses a powerful question about the limits of a parent's responsibility and the crushing weight of societal failure to support those with mental health challenges. It's a tale of hope, freedom, and familial strength battling against a world that has no place for people like Steve, ultimately suggesting that some bonds are so intense they become both a sanctuary and a prison.