The Good Mothers is a 2023 British‑Italian crime drama television mini‑series. The series was created for Disney+ (Star) and Hulu and consists of six episodes, each approximately 45–61 minutes in length.
Genre and Source
The series is a crime drama based on the true story recounted in the eponymous novel The Good Mothers by journalist Alex Perry. It dramatizes the efforts of three women who were members of the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta mafia and who cooperated with a female public prosecutor to undermine the criminal organisation.
Production
- Creators / Writers: Stephen Butchard (screenwriter)
- Directors: Julian Jarrold and Elisa Amoruso
- Executive Producer: Stephen Butchard
- Producers: Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross, Harriet Spencer, Mario Gianani, Lorenzo Gangarossa
- Cinematography: Vittorio Omodei Zorini, Martina Cocco, Ferran Paredes Rubio
- Music: Giorgio Giampà
- Production Companies: House Productions, Wildside
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom, Italy
- Original Language: Italian
Cast (selected)
- Gaia Girace as Denise Cosco
- Valentina Bellè as Giuseppina Pesce
- Barbara Chichiarelli as Anna Colace (the prosecutor)
- Francesco Colella as Carlo Cosco
- Simona Di Stefano as Concetta Cacciola
- Micaela Ramazzotti as Lea Garofalo
Synopsis
Set in 2010, the narrative opens with the disappearance of Lea Garofalo, a mother who, together with her daughter Denise, attempted to leave the ‘Ndrangheta. Public prosecutor Anna Colace devises a strategy to weaken the mafia by encouraging women within the clan to become state witnesses. The series follows the personal risks and moral dilemmas faced by the women as they decide whether to betray their families in pursuit of safety for themselves and their children.
Episodes
- “Mouth of the Wolf” – 57 min (5 April 2023)
- “Family and Loyalty” – 60 min (5 April 2023)
- “Another Life” – 61 min (5 April 2023)
- “Betrayal” – 57 min (5 April 2023)
- “Mothers and Daughters” – 61 min (5 April 2023)
- “Courage” – 61 min (5 April 2023)
Release and Distribution
The first two episodes premiered at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival’s Berlinale Series section on 21 February 2023. The series was released internationally on Disney+ on 5 April 2023 and became available in the United States on Hulu.
Reception
Critical response has been largely positive. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100 % approval rating based on seven critic reviews, with an average score of 8.00/10. Reviewers praised the series for its compelling portrayal of a rarely seen perspective within organized‑crime narratives, its strong performances (particularly by Chichiarelli and Bellè), and its cinematographic quality.
Accolades
- 2023 Berlinale Series Award – Winner (Berlin International Film Festival)
- 2023 Nastri d'Argento – Grandi Serie – Nominated for Best Series; Barbara Chichiarelli nominated for Best Actress; Francesco Colella nominated for Best Actor; Valentina Bellè won Best Supporting Actress
- 2024 Critics' Choice Awards – Nominated for Best Foreign Language Series
Significance
The Good Mothers is notable for foregrounding female agency within the context of Italian organized crime, a thematic focus that distinguishes it from many earlier mafia‑related productions. Its collaboration between British and Italian production entities exemplifies the increasing transnational nature of contemporary streaming‑era television.