Some are born mothers, some find motherhood, and others have motherhood thrust upon them. Whatever way it comes about, one thing remains undisputed: being a mum can be a tough gig. For the women at the centre of these dramas, however, it’s one made all the more complicated by the unique circumstances in which they find themselves.
From criminal gangs to family wars and everything in between, prepare for the unexpected in these female-fronted series, part of the Mama Dramas Collection at SBS On Demand.
Pørni
There’s a fine line between giving your all to the people you care about and neglecting yourself, and nobody is more familiar with walking this line than Pernille, aka Pørni. Not only has the protagonist of this multi-season Norwegian comedy drama got three children relying on her, and an elderly father to worry about, but she also has a responsibility to the children she meets in her job at the welfare service.
Being pulled in all directions, Pørni struggles to get the balance right, and over two six-episode seasons, discovers that it’s not possible to be everything to everyone while keeping her own head above water. Created by actress and comedian Henriette Steenstrup, who also plays the title role, Pørni is a real and raw account of the joys and heartaches of contemporary womanhood.
Riviera
Georgina Clios (Julia Stiles) is an art curator living the high life in the glamorous Côte d’Azur with her banker husband Constantine (Anthony LaPaglia) when an explosion on a luxury yacht at the beginning of three-season thriller Riviera changes everything. Georgina finds herself widowed after just one year of marriage, and confronted with details of her late husband’s life that she never could have imagined. As she processes her own grief, she also struggles to keep her blended family together, with her three stepchildren distraught over their father’s passing. As her investigation into what really led to his death delves deeper and exposes her to a world of lies and crime, Georgina realises no one is who they appear to be… including her.
Heridas
The experiences of childhood have a powerful impact on the way we approach the rest of our lives, and as Spanish language series Heridas proves, some create wounds that never truly heal. Having been abandoned when she was young, and raised by an adoptive family, Manuela (Adriana Ugarte) leaves the pain of her past behind and chooses to live alone in a marsh, devoted to the study of migratory birds. She is determined to keep everyone at arm’s length and is firm in her decision that she will never be a mother. The day she meets Alba (Cosette Silguero), however, everything changes. Manuela feels an instant connection to the little girl, and begins a thirteen-episode journey that will force her to confront the demons of her past and to question the pillars of her life.
Broadchurch
When the coastal community of Broadchurch is rocked by the death of eleven-year-old Daniel Latimer, Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) is tasked with bringing the person responsible to justice. But it won’t be easy. For starters, Ellie has a new boss, and she can’t shake the feeling that the DI position should have gone to her, not sullen out-of-towner Alec Hardy (David Tennant). Then there’s Ellie’s proximity to the case. In a small town like this, everyone knows everyone, and no matter how hard she tries, Ellie must confront the possibility that the culprit is very likely someone she knows. And those suffering as a result of this crime are not only victims, but the people she calls friends. Will Ellie be able to protect her family and bring Danny’s killer to justice? Find out over three nail-biting seasons.
Surge
Inspired by real-life events, French language series Surge centres on the story of ride share driver Nora (Golshifteh Farahani). Addicted to amphetamines, Nora is drowning in debt, recently divorced, and sleeping in her car to save money; safe to say rock bottom is a place she visits often. Intermittent video calls with her daughter are the only thing getting Nora through, but it’s a love that seems a world away from the darkness of her daily existence. Nora knows if she wants to turn her life around, something has to change. And fast. A one-off favour for her brother Ben (Vincent Heneine) seems to be the answer, but instead it puts her at the service of a dangerous criminal operation and once again prevents Nora from sitting in the driver’s seat of her own life. Though the pair’s story unfolds over just five short episodes, each episode packs a serious punch.
Cargo
Café owner Kiki (Evelyn Rasmussen Osazuwa) has been living a happy life with her husband and daughter in the northeast African country of Eritrea until her world is turned upside down and a request for help quickly becomes a life-or-death situation. As Finnish language series Cargo unfolds, it becomes clear that the only solution for Kiki is leaving the country, but doing so is not without danger. With pressure mounting, she is left with no choice but to risk her life and cross the Mediterranean if she has any hope of being reunited with her family. This powerful account of the international refugee crisis over eight gripping episodes exposes a world where greed, violence and exploitation compete with the love of a young wife and mother who will stop at nothing to protect those she loves.
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