David Lowery Breaks Down Key Scenes from A24's Mother Mary

Anne Hathaway's Six Pack

In the opening scene of Mother Mary, pop star Mother Mary, played by Anne Hathaway, arrives at her costume designer Sam's studio demanding a new outfit for her comeback tour. During this moment, Hathaway lifts her shirt to reveal an impressive six-pack, shocking the audience. Lowery notes that Hathaway understood the physical demands of her role and engaged in a rigorous 'pop-star bootcamp' three months before filming began. This preparation allowed her to deliver a performance that blended dance with the physicality required for the film.

Designing the "Ghost"

The film introduces a ghostly entity known as the 'Red Woman,' which symbolizes the complex relationship between Mary and Sam. Lowery describes the ghost as a flowing red sheet of fabric that appears both spectral and familiar. He explains, "We spent a long time trying to figure out what this apparition was going to look like... In the script, she was always described as the 'Red Woman.'" The design process involved extensive experimentation, including sketches and sculptures, leading to a unique interpretation that resonated with the characters' emotional journey.

We spent a long time trying to figure out what this apparition was going to look like, what form it would take. In the script, she was always described as the 'Red Woman.' When I was writing, I was assuming there'd be a humanoid form, some sort of spectral apparition, like what you see at the beginning of Ghostbusters . But the more I got into the pre-production process and started trying to figure out how we would shoot these sequences, I realized that wasn't enough. If we just relied on the traditional visual signifiers of a ghost or a spectral presence, it wouldn't capture what this entity actually represented. So I dove headfirst into drawing up a lot of sketches. I got some red clay and started sculpting maquettes to try to figure out what form I wanted to see. Not even to try to create a sculpture; I was just exploring, trying to look at different shapes, different objects, different transmutations of substances. I looked at a lot of reference material online and considered a lot of different effects. Ultimately, I found this artist named Daniel Wurtzel , based in Brooklyn, who does sculpture involving fabric and air. He uses fans and these very incredible custom air tables to keep fabric in a fluid state and to exhibit it in a fluid state.

Lowery emphasizes that the ghost represents a transference of energy between the characters, stating, "I think it can be fairly clear. There's a transference of energy between these characters." This idea reinforces the film's exploration of interpersonal connections and the emotional weight they carry.

Mother Mary's Climactic Fall

The haunting narrative culminates during a concert where Mother Mary is startled by the ghost and falls from a floating platform. While safety ropes catch her, the incident forces her into hiding. Lowery highlights the blend of practical effects and camera work used to capture this pivotal moment, noting, "Every single bit of that was real... We were shooting the wide shots first, where we got to be a little bit more objective and just thrilled by the spectacle of it." This scene conveys both the public spectacle of performance and the personal turmoil Mary experiences.

Every single bit of that was real. Annie was really up on that platform rising up above the crowd, and we had a camera mounted up there with her. It was incredible to behold. We were shooting the wide shots first, where we got to be a little bit more objective and just thrilled by the spectacle of it. But then when we put the camera up on the platform with her to get the closeups, to see the emotional journey she's going on as she rises up away from the adoring fans into this liminal space that you can't quite define up in the darkness, up in the rafters, it was a reminder of what the scene was actually about. Anne knew this was a performance that was very public and she had to give it her all, but that there was something very intensely private happening at the same time. The fall itself was a stunt that an incredible stunt performer did. And then all the stuff that's intercut around that — in a movie that is full of words, I wanted there to be a sequence that almost felt like a visual symphony, that cast the dialogue aside. So it was just the images telling the story.

Quantum Physics in Mother Mary

In a surprising twist, Mother Mary delves into quantum physics, specifically the phenomenon of quantum entanglement, where particles remain interconnected regardless of distance. Lowery shares his fascination with this concept, explaining, "I've been researching quantum physics for years... But unlike mathematics, which I'm terrible at, there is a strange poetry to quantum physics that I can just begin to scratch the surface of." The theme is embodied in the title of Mary's new song, "Spooky Action," which reflects the deep, almost supernatural bond between the protagonists.

I've been researching quantum physics for years. My brain breaks when I get too deep into it. But unlike mathematics, which I'm terrible at, there is a strange poetry to quantum physics that I can just begin to scratch the surface of. I'd been working on another project that really had me digging deep into all the practicalities of quantum physics, like the Large Hadron Collider, which they reference in Mother Mary. I know all about how it works, and the thing that always stuck with me was the poetry of it. The idea that a particle on one side of the universe can be engaged with a particle on the other side of the universe, and what happens to one will happen to the other, in spite of the fact that they are a billion miles apart from one another is an incredible fact of reality, but also an incredible metaphor. The idea that these particles can feel each other's feelings is too good a metaphor to pass up. And I've been waiting for a chance to not only use it in a movie, but then to talk about it afterward. Because I love how it changes the way you think about the mechanics of the universe in such a profound way. I'm not a particularly spiritual person, but when I think about things like 'spooky action at a distance,' I feel there's a membrane beyond the reality that we know that I can see through just a little bit, and it really blows my mind.

The film is currently in limited theaters with a wider release scheduled for April 24. For audiences looking for a blend of horror, dance, and thought-provoking themes, Mother Mary promises a unique cinematic experience.