Ron: Welcome to a bonus Stereo Geeks episode from Toronto International Film Festival 2026. I’m Ron and today, I’m reviewing Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, which had its world premiere at TIFF.
Mon: Before we start our episode, we would like to acknowledge that the land we are recording on is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Ron: While we are making this land acknowledgement, we understand that this is not enough and that positive action is required by the people of Canada to make substantive change for the Indigenous nations and communities whose lands we now reside on.
What is the film about?
Ron: It’s so hard to say what Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is about. Not knowing is probably the best way to experience the film. All I knew going in was that it was a film about an assassin who had to take care of his family after the sudden loss of his wife.
That’s definitely the gist of it but the film is about so much more. Latif (Mahershala Ali) is a contract killer, dedicated to ridding the world of evil-doers, a task he’s taken on as a devout Muslim. But his work and his faith are rattled when his wife dies. Wracked with grief, Latif sees no point in continuing his crusade. Instead, he decides to focus entirely on his three children, Fatiha (Adia), a questioning and curious teenager, his devout adolescent (Jahleel Kamara), and his infant daughter.
But when you’re good at a very particular — and dangerous — job, it’s hard for an employer to let you go. Latif is inundated with calls and texts from his employer demanding he return. The man is grieving, you’d think his boss would give him a break. But that’s capitalism for you.
When Latif realizes that his boss’ newest job for him and his own desire to help his infant are colliding, Latif must make very tough decisions. Blood will be shed. But the question is: how much of it will be Latif’s?
What did the film do well?
Ron: I have to talk about how sumptuous the visuals of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother are. The cinematography is gorgeous, amply supported by a variety of fascinating sets and costumes. Beautiful shots capture the homely interiors of Latif’s very normal-looking house, while just as easily showing us the grandeur of gangster mansions.
But it’s the colours that left me gobsmacked. The last 20 years has seen the desaturation trend take over Hollywood and I hate it. Everything always looks two tones away from sepia. This film takes bold colours and slaps them in your face. The reds pop right out; the yellows sing. The neons cast a spell. The colours make the world of the film feel as real as ours. And at the same time, the way the camera captures textures is a dream. The wrinkles of the characters’ skin, the threads of the mosque carpets, the bubbles of blood pouring from a wound. My word, this film looks and feels so visceral.
I wish I could talk about the visuals forever but I must move on. I have to talk about the performances. How Mahershala Ali manages to disappear into roles continues to astound me. I love how well-built he is in this film — you take one look at Latif and you know he’s not an accountant. But Ali also looks like a dad — heavy-lidded eyes from lack of sleep, a jaw set when he sees something odd on his daughter’s laptop. The way he juggles two completely different sides of this man’s personality is commendable. Will he get recognition for this action-drama role? He won for Green Book, where he was the only good part of a terrible film. So maybe?
I also have to talk about Adia, who plays Fatiha so effortlessly. She’s extremely natural in her acting. Her eye rolls when her father demands the children’s attention. The speed at which she slams the laptop shut because Latif walks in without knocking. It’s hilarious and very real. But near the end of the film, Adia captures the raw and painful fear children have for their parents in a way that I felt in my soul. Not a dry eye in the house.
The chemistry between father and daughter is the powerhouse of this film. They’re so caring, yet worried for each other. Propping each other up, yet also questioning each other. Also, the contents of the laptop turns out to be a recurring joke that added much-needed levity to the film.
I’ve never seen John Cho in this kind of role. He’s a charmer, as we expect him to be, but he’s so malicious and terrifying. Never thought I’d hear the audience gasp in fear when John Cho appears on screen!
What is probably going to stay with me about Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is the specificity of the premise. For this film, writer-director Bassam Tariq drew on his own experience of almost losing his wife and having no assistance to help his infant. That’s the only reason why this story works. Because it happened to real people. It’s something I’ve never thought of and it’s so unique watching it.
Tariq also uses his crisis of faith during that period of time to create Latif’s moral dilemma. Again, that’s why it works. Otherwise, the religious angle would have fallen flat. It may even have been offensive.
I was also floored by the action scenes. They’re kinetic, beautiful, of course, because of the sets and colours. But you get a strong sense of what we could have got if Marvel had made Blade. Latif fights with knives and machetes, not a far cry from Blade’s swords. What a miss.
What could have been improved?
Ron: This is a small criticism of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother but the ending moves away from reality in a way that felt a bit too Bollywood for me. The audience was into it, and I can’t see the story having the conclusion it deserves without going in that direction. But the entire film feels so grounded and real, that it jarred me.
Ron: The row behind me at Princess of Wales was all in. They were in their living room, not the theatre, chatting with each other, talking to the screen, screaming bloody murder during the action scenes. The gentleman a few seats from me sat at the edge of his seat for the majority of the movie, his head in his hands at every downturn for Latif and his family. I loved this viewing experience. People were so into the film. This is why I love film festivals.
Final thoughts
Ron: Knowing nothing about Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother was the best way I could have watched this film. I know by reviewing it, I’ve taken that option away from listeners, but I’ve got to share something!
This film has such a unique story based on real human experiences. The action scenes and the rich visuals are the big draw, but it’s the family story, the love of parents and children that makes the film outstanding. I can’t stop thinking about it.
Ron: That’s it for this bonus review episode of Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Tune in next time for another TIFF 2026 review.
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Mon: See you next time.