Mommie Dearest (1981)

"Mommie Dearest" is a poignant portrayal of the tumultuous relationship between Hollywood legend Joan Crawford and her adopted daughter Christina, as seen through Christina's eyes. In the glitz and glamour of 1940s Hollywood, Joan, unable to bear children and twice divorced, bypasses traditional adoption agencies with the help of her lover, a lawyer at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to adopt Christina, the first of her four children. Haunted by her own challenging upbringing, Joan firmly believes in her resilience and is determined not to coddle her children. She creates a paradoxical world of luxury and torment, treating Christina more as a rival than a daughter. Joan's treatment of Christina oscillates between tender and cruel, amplified by the fluctuating fortunes of her career, the inherent narcissism of her profession, and her increasing dependence on alcohol. Throughout this emotional battlefield, Joan perceives herself as the victim of Christina's alleged provocations, leading to a cycle of psychological and physical abuse. This volatile dynamic is concealed behind the closed doors of their ostentatious Brentwood home, a stark contrast to Joan's carefully curated public image. Despite enduring a childhood marred by turmoil, Christina yearns for Joan's love until the bitter end, torn between resentment and an innate desire for maternal affection. Meanwhile, her brother Christopher silently shares the weight of their tumultuous upbringing. Based on Christina Crawford's book about her mother, "Mommie Dearest" unveils the raw and unadorned reality of a life shrouded in Hollywood's glittering facade, a poignant exploration of a mother-daughter relationship scarred by ambition, addiction, and the relentless pressures of stardom.

Mommie Dearest is a comedy movie featuring Rutanya Alda and directed by Frank Perry.

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