This title of this film speaks with a meaningful message. Earth Mama is an invigorating story that displays the challenges of tough love and shows how choices have consequences. Motherhood is the subject of the struggle in Earth Mama which is filled with heavy emotions. Hardship for the mother continues throughout the film but there is no giving up hope. I found this experience to be eerie, yet vividly stunning due to its exploration of human nature. Earth Mama made me curious about what it’s like to be restricted based on choices.

The film takes place in the Bay area of California. Gia is a mother played by Tia Nomore. She has two kids and a third on the way. Her children are in the hands of the court system because Gia has made choices that are unsafe for her children. Therefore, she is restricted from being with her kids as much as she would like to. She must live on welfare and be on probation.With a rough background and a questionable paper trail of errors, Gia keeps hitting plateaus as she tries to get her head on straight so she can convince her parole officer that she is capable of taking care of her kids. Her parole officer is Jasmine played by Tina D’Elia.

As the film progresses, Gia begins to understand that she may have made mistakes. However, deep down she has a big heart for her children. Nevertheless, she decides to investigate adoption for her third child, but fears this commitment may cause even more problems. Gia has lost a lot in her life due to repeated errors, lies, and struggles with addiction. The title Earth Mama relates to Gia’s problems which all involve wanting to feel a sense of escape. Unfortunately, her brief periods of relief also have serious consequences.

The film thrives on Gia’s errors, which I found somewhat disappointing. Earth Mama has a strange vibe that boils through the audience as Gia goes through many waves of conflict. While it feels real, it is not a comfortable feeling. There is good in the love that Gia has for her children, but there is nothing good in the choices she continues to make. Earth Mama creates a world of tragedy and melancholy as the cinematography grasps the sadness of Gia’s challenging life. Can Gia get through her parole? Can Gia regain custody of her children? Will Gia make the right choice for her newborn? There is no right or wrong answer to any of these questions in Earth Mama. It is a film that battles with and tackles life challenges in an extremely realistic way.

Earth Mama hit me to the core because of its exploration of a-life-like situation, including the harsh consequences that come with poor decisions. The threat of relapse and continued errors only escalates the hardship for Gia and her children. Finally, Gia regaining faith in herself may be the biggest struggle in Earth Mama. Two and a half out of four stars.