MOVIES
Being a single mother has been stereotyped as shameful, but this story of friendship aims to set the record straight, writes
No drama from these Baby Mamas
The term “baby mama” has a negative connotation, often accompanying the overused phrase, “baby mama drama”. But a new South African film has taken the American term that has long been part of the lexicon of young South Africans and ripped it away from its demeaning roots. Baby Mamas is a fun comedy with lots of heart and bite-sized social commentary that isn’t shoved down the viewers’ throats.
The film stars Salamina Mosese (Toli), Dineo Ranaka (Joy), Thembisa Mdoda (Sandy) and Kay Smith (Chantel) as friends whose personal lives are either critical but stable or are unravelling rather spectacularly. Mosese produced the film and it is directed by Stephina Zwane.
While the title could be misleading — “baby mamas” are hardly, if ever, portrayed in a positive light — it was important for Zwane and Mosese to reclaim the title often given to women who have children out of wedlock.
“There have been enough films made about the negative stereotyped baby mama — we want to change this narrative. It is not reflective of all the positive stories we know from personal experience, of all the wonderful, hardworking single moms we know and see around us,” says
Mosese.
“Single moms don’t need to feel shame or be shamed. They are beautiful, and important; we see their magic.”
Baby Mamas, says Zwane, is “a lighthearted look at the topic of ‘baby mamas’, in all their shapes, types and sizes [and] an authentic South African story for all to enjoy.”
Mosese’s character, Toli — while by no means flawless — is the calm and soothing centre of the film. She’s a single mother who is successfully co-parenting with her ex and her career is (somewhat) coming together — but let’s not forget about her commitment issues.
Mdoda’s Sandy is the “baby mama” who would be accused of causing drama since she cannot get over the ex who recently waltzed back into her and her child’s life — with a new girlfriend in tow.
Ranaka’s Joy is the sassy and vivacious friend who shoots from the hip, gives great advice but whose own life is, to put it mildly, a mess. As frustrating as her character can be, she has the best scene in the film. Without giving away too much, Joy loses her temper, does some criminal stuff and cries intensely before quickly gathering her composure. It’s chilling to watch, and is spectacular acting from Ranaka.
Smith’s Chantel finds out she’s pregnant at the beginning of the film and her boyfriend makes it clear he has more important priorities on his list than fatherhood — such as buying a new pair of sneakers. It’s hilarious but it’s also unsettling because there are so many children being raised without fathers in this country and I bet some of them have used the most pathetic excuses for bailing on their kids.
The making of Baby Mamas wasn’t all sunshine and roses — Zwane and Mosese say they “had to fight in every step of the process”, but that has resulted in them being tougher, wiser and more passionate about telling “our stories”.
About directing the film, Zwane says: “It’s [been] a lifelong dream of mine to not only write this story but to actually be instrumental in seeing it to fruition. I had a great team rallying around me, and it made my job of putting it all together a little easier. I am proud of the work that we did.”
For Mosese, the producer role was “lifechanging”. She says: “The things we have learnt will mean that we can only get better from here on out. ”
Before its release, the film had screenings in Canada, the US and Nigeria. And if first-weekend reactions are anything to go by, South African audiences loved it. What do Zwane and Mosese want their viewers to get out of Baby Mamas?
“To walk away having laughed, cried, clapped and seen a bit of themselves reflected on the screen.” LS
Baby Mamas is on circuit
SINGLE MOMS DON’T NEED TO FEEL SHAME. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL