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.