The Good Mothers

British-Italian crime drama television series

The Good Mothers

Teaser poster

Genre| Crime drama
Based on| The Good Mothers
by Alex Perry
Written by| Stephen Butchard
Directed by|

* Julian Jarrold
* Elisa Amoruso

Starring|

* Gaia Girace
* Valentina Bellè
* Barbara Chichiarelli
* Simona Di Stefano
* Micaela Ramazzotti

Music by| Giorgio Giampà
Country of origin|

* United Kingdom
* Italy

Original language| Italian
No. of episodes| 6
Production
Producers|

* Juliette Howell
* Tessa Ross
* Harriet Spencer
* Mario Gianani
* Lorenzo Gangarossa

Cinematography|

* Vittorio Omodei Zorini
* Martina Cocco
* Ferran Paredes Rubio

Editors|

* Simona Paggi
* Chiara Griziotti
* Irene Vecchio

Running time| 45 minutes
Production companies|

* House Productions
* Wildside

Original release
Network| Disney+
Release| 21 February 2023 (2023-02-21)

The Good Mothers is a 2023 British-Italian crime drama streaming television series directed by Julian Jarrold and Elisa Amoruso. Based on a true story and adapted from the eponymous novel by Alex Perry, the series depicts how the three courageous women inside the notorious Calabrian 'Ndrangheta mafia worked with a female prosecutor to bring down the criminal empire.[1]

The Good Mothers had its international premiere at 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in Berlinale Series on 21 February 2023, as first 2 episodes out of 6 were screened.[2] It was released on April 5, 2023 internationally on Disney+ and on Hulu in the United States.[1]

## Synopsis[edit]

Lea Garofalo tribute poster in the Orto e Giardino Didattico dedicated to her in Monza

Set in 2010, the series begins with the disappearance of Lea Garofalo, who, together with her daughter Denise, had decided to end the 'Ndrangheta mafia. In Calabria, Anna Colace, a public prosecutor committed against the criminal clans, develops a new strategy to crush the power of the gangs by influencing the female members to collaborate and thus undermine the organization's power structure. A strategy that puts women in front, and betray their families, in the hope of better future for themselves and their children.

## Cast[edit]

* Gaia Girace as Denise Cosco
* Valentina Bellè as Giuseppina Pesce
* Barbara Chichiarelli as Anna Colace
* Francesco Colella as Carlo Cosco
* Simona Distefano as Concetta Cacciola
* Andrea Dodero as Carmine
* Micaela Ramazzotti as Lea Garofalo
* Andrea Riso as Enrico

## Episodes[edit]

No. in
season| Title| Duration| Original air date

|
|
|

1| "Mouth of the Wolf"
"Nella bocca del lupo"| 57 min| 5 April 2023 (2023-04-05)
2| "Family and Loyalty"
"Famiglia e lealtà"| 60 min| 5 April 2023 (2023-04-05)
3| "Another Life"
"Un'altra vita"| 61 min| 5 April 2023 (2023-04-05)
4| "Betrayal"
"Tradimento"| 57 min| 5 April 2023 (2023-04-05)
5| "Mothers and Daughters"
"Madri e figli"| 61 min| 5 April 2023 (2023-04-05)
6| "Courage"
"Coraggio"| 61 min| 5 April 2023 (2023-04-05)

## Production[edit]

On 15 April 2021, Disney+ confirmed the production of its Star Original series The Good Mothers. This series was part of Disney+ and Star's first European originals productions.[3]

## Release[edit]

The first 2 episodes of the series were screened at 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in Berlinale Series on 21 February 2023. It began streaming on 5 April 2023 internationally on Disney+ and on Hulu in the United States.[4]

## Reception[edit]

### Critical response[edit]

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.00/10, based on 7 critic reviews.[5]

Joel Keller of Decider asserted, "The first episode of The Good Mothers sets up a powerful story of an unheard faction of the ‘Ndrangheta families that stood up and helped to bring them down."[6] Jasper Rees of The Telegraph gave the series a grade of 5 out of 5 stars, called it a "superb adaptation" of Alex Perry's book, and said that each episode is "compelling."[7] Nick Clark of Evening Standard gave The Good Mothers a grade of 4 out of 5 stars, writing, "A gritty, Italian-language mafia drama may not have been an obvious gap in his CV, but this is expertly handled. Its beautifully shot, and thrillingly tense. Search it out, mamma mia this is good."[8]

### Accolades[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2023  | 73rd Berlin International Film Festival | Berlinale Series  | The Good Mothers | Won  | [9][10]
Nastri D'Argento Grandi Serie  | Best Series  | The Good Mothers | Nominated  | [11][12]
Best Actress  | Barbara Chichiarelli | Nominated
Best Actor  | Francesco Colella  | Nominated
Best Supporting Actress  | Valentina Bellè | Won
2024  | 29th Critics' Choice Awards | Best Foreign Language Series  | The Good Mothers | Nominated  | [13]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Vivarelli, Nick (21 February 2023). "Disney+ Series 'The Good Mothers,' Real Story of Women Who Dare to Defy Italian Mob, Marks U.K. Italy Collaboration". Variety. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
2. ^ Whittock, Jesse (16 January 2023). "Berlinale Series Unveils Eight World Premieres & TV Jury". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
3. ^ "Disney+ renforce son offre de productions européennes en dévoilant ses premières séries originales britanniques" [Disney+ strengthens its offer of European productions by unveiling its first British original series] (Press release) (in French). The Walt Disney Company France. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
4. ^ Minniti, Marco (22 February 2023). "Presentati al Festival di Berlino 2023 – nell'ambito della sezione Berlinale Series – i primi due episodi di The Good Mothers convincono" [Presented at the Berlin Film Festival 2023 – as part of the Berlinale Series section – the first two episodes of The Good Mothers convince]. Asbury Movies (in Italian). Retrieved 24 February 2023.
5. ^ "The Good Mothers - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
6. ^ Keller, Joel (6 April 2023). "'The Good Mothers' Hulu Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". Decider. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
7. ^ Rees, Jasper (5 April 2023). "The Good Mothers, Disney+ review: masterly Italian drama places women front and centre – for once". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
8. ^ Clark, Nick (5 April 2023). "The Good Mothers on Disney+ review: true mafia tale is nerve-janglingly tense". Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
9. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (22 February 2023). "Disney+ Mafia Drama 'The Good Mothers' Wins First Ever Berlinale Series Award". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
10. ^ Bałaga, Marta; Hopewell, John (22 February 2023). "Disney+ Original 'The Good Mothers' Scoops Berlinale Series Award". Variety. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
11. ^ Leombruni, Lucrezia (12 May 2023). "Nastri d'Argento, Mare Fuori è la serie dell'anno". Agenzia Dire (in Italian).
12. ^ Naselli, Antonio (17 June 2023). "NASTRI d'ARGENTO GRANDI SERIE 2023_NASTRI SPECIALI e STASERA LA PREMIAZIONE". Nastri d'Argento (in Italian).
13. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (15 January 2024). "Critics Choice Awards 2024: Winners List (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved 15 January 2024.

## External links[edit]

* The Good Mothers at IMDb
* The Good Mothers at Berlinale
* The Good Mothers at Cineuropa

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