Mammoth (2009)

Mammoth Poster

While on a trip to Thailand, a successful American businessman tries to radically change his life. Back in New York, his wife and daughter find their relationship with their live-in Filipino maid changing around them. At the same time, in the Philippines, the maid's family struggles to deal with her absence.

Introduction
"Mammoth" is a 2009 drama movie directed by acclaimed Swedish filmmaker Lukas Moodysson. Released globally, the film explores themes of globalization, wealth, and social disparities. The multi-narrative feature takes its audience on a journey throughout 3 different continents - North America, Asia, and Africa - showcasing the intricate weaving of human relationships linked by modern world events.

Plot Summary
The movie's main focal point is a successful New York couple, Leo and Ellen Vidales. Leo, played by Gael García Bernal, is a gaming business owner, while Ellen, depicted by Michelle Williams, is a dedicated emergency surgeon. The couple lives a comfortable life with their seven-year-old child, Jackie, who loves her Filipina baby-sitter, Gloria.

Leo proceeds on a company journey to Thailand, leaving Ellen to cater for their kid, who is mainly looked after by Gloria. In Thailand, Leo ultimately succumbs to hedonistic indulgences. He is lured into a world unknown to him, complete with glamorous trips to the beach and communicating with local women. Meanwhile, in New York, Ellen confronts a moral crisis when she ends up being unduly near to a client, producing stress within her marriage.

Concurrent Storylines
In parallel, Gloria comes to grips with the regret of leaving her two young boys behind in the Philippines to make money abroad. She sends cash to her family and keeps communication by means of web cam, where she learns her youngest kid believes she lives inside the computer system. The movie intensify as Gloria's eldest son, Salvador, chooses to travel to Manila to find work, causing problems.

Themes
"Mammoth" shines a light on a primary concern of modern society - the plain contrast between the lives of the affluent and the denied. The upscale cope with guilt for their fortunate lives, while the impoverished strive for much better lives, frequently residing in conditions that subject them to solitude and possible threat that the rich can hardly understand.

Ending
"Mammoth" ends on a tragic note when Salvador, Gloria's kid, is completely assaulted while trying to earn quick money in Manila. This event acts as a plain pointer of the perils of poverty and the lengths one may go to leave it. Through contrasting scenes of the New York couple's house in a rich city and the Philippine province's impoverished state, the motion picture captures income inequality poignantly.

Critical Reception
"Mammoth" garnered combined reactions upon release due to its somber styles and blatant criticism of globalization's unfavorable effects. Yet, Moodysson's vivid juxtaposition of wealth and hardship, advanced by effective performances by the primary cast, promoted deep contemplation amongst viewers. The film successfully highlights the intricacies of modern-day relationships, individual struggles, and the profound results of globalization on society. Although the film does not avoid providing painful truths of our world, it also offers glimpses of hope and strength in the most tough conditions.

Conclusion
"Mammoth" is a thought-provoking narrative about the intersectionality of wealth and hardship, magnificently articulated through private lives. It unfolds the extreme realities of a globalized world and its extensive impacts on human bonds, making it a compelling watch.

Top Cast

  • Gael García Bernal (small)
    Gael García Bernal
    Leo Vidales
  • Michelle Williams (small)
    Michelle Williams
    Ellen Vidales
  • Marife Necesito
    Gloria
  • Sophie Nyweide
    Jackie Vidales
  • Tom McCarthy (small)
    Tom McCarthy
    Bob Sanders
  • Natthamonkarn Srinikornchot (small)
    Natthamonkarn Srinikornchot
    Cookie
  • Jan David G. Nicdao
    Salvador
  • Martin Delos Santos
    Manuel
  • Maria Esmeralda del Carmen
    Grandmother
  • Perry Dizon (small)
    Perry Dizon
    Uncle Fernando
  • Joseph Mydell
    Ben Jackson