The bonds between mothers and children are some of the most powerful. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You shows that that’s not necessarily a positive thing.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is one of the many must-see movies playing at the 61st Chicago International Film Festival. I saw it at an early screening as part of the festival.
The movie follows Linda, a mother whose daughter develops a mysterious illness. To add to her chaos, one day, a hole opens up in her home. This forces the mother and child to vacate.
Linda’s trials and tribulations as a mother become the focal point of the film.
Often, we hear mothers praised for their hard work and sacrifices. Sometimes people call them the backbones of society, the unsung heroes, and superwomen. We hear this, but cannot truly understand this truth unless we have children.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You tries to make us understand the complexities and mental toll of motherhood. Though I would classify the film as a dark comedy with some magical realism, it’s also a very meditative movie about life, parenting, and womanhood in relation to what’s considered the right or wrong way to behave as a mother.
It’s a powerful film. It just might not have mass appeal, and that’s fine, because the story it tells connects with a large group of women. However, it may also connect with those willing to learn and understand.
A lot of non-mothers will watch If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and have an epiphany moment. “It is hard to be a mother. Everyone was right,” they may think while watching this movie. It succeeds at portraying the struggles of parenthood.
Linda’s daughter is sick, so that’s an additional problem, but the main source of her agony, despair, and discomfort comes from motherhood in general. It shows that mental health and motherhood don’t receive enough conversation.
Raising a child comes with many obstacles; it makes sense that one’s mental health may be on the decline because of the daily turmoils of this job. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You feels like a warning: mothers need your help, or expect them to drown.
Rose Byrne plays the role of Linda with finesse. It’s not a showy performance but one with many nuances and subtleties. She’s a woman on the verge of a breakdown, and that’s clear in every frame, movement, conversation, and choice.
Byrne captures Linda’s distraught nature with what feels like an effortless performance. However, you know the places she must go to pull off such an authentic-feeling acting job. Conan O’Brien is also very entertaining and meticulous about this role.
He uses his limited screentime well. He’s instantly funny, grumpily charming, and captivating in a very specific way. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You tells such an interesting story about motherhood that you can’t help but have it in your mind for many weeks to come.
It’s a quirky film, but in the best possible ways. The eccentricities add to its character, and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You has a lot of it.
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You is currently playing nationwide. Catch it at a theater near you or at the Chicago International Film Festival.
