I’m disappointed, yet not surprised, that Andrew Dosunmu’s acclaimed sophomore effort, Mother of George, will be opening in my area for one week only.

That means that if you don’t make it down to Landmark Theatre’s E Street Cinema in Washington, D.C. this weekend, you’ll have to scramble during the work-week to make it there before it’s gone for good.  That is unless you’re home next week anyway because of the government shutdown.  In that case, you have all week to see it. [Side-eye to the childish politicians f*cking it up for everybody.]

For those who are unfamiliar with Dosunmu’s beautifully dramatic film, here’s what you need to know:

Ayodele Balogen (Isaach De Bankole) owns a small African
restaurant in Brooklyn. His fiancee, Adenike Matashane (Danai Gurira),
has waited six years to start a new life with Ayo in the US. Ayo and
Adenike have a traditional Basotho wedding, culminating in a ceremony
where Adenike is named for her yet to be conceived son, George. But as
months pass, Ma George’s pregnancy attempts fail and her loneliness
intensifies. Torn between her Basotho culture and new life in America,
Ma George struggles to save her marriage, stopping at no cost to give
Ayo his much-awaited son.

Tony Okungbowa, Bukky Ajayi, and Yaya Alafia co-star in the Darci Picoult-penned drama.

I highly recommend Mother of George, and encourage S&A readers in the D.C. area to go out and support it.  Tell a friend, and take a friend if you can.

Back in January of 2012, Dee Rees’ Pariah opened in Washington at the same theater, for a similar one-week engagement.  The place was packed, with many showings, if not all of them, sold out.  The crowds were diverse, and everyone had a good time.  And if I’m not mistaken, Pariah’s run was extended after that initial strong opening.

It would be great to once again show Landmark Theatres that well-made, entertaining stories from within the African Diaspora deserve more than one week on their screens.