Love Always, Mom

Love Always, Mom is a deeply moving and emotional documentary film, which made its compelling debut in 2019. The storyline revolves around the unfortunate circumstances and astounding resilience of its main protagonist, Tricia Russo. As the main character in the real-life narrative, Tricia, a then 37-year-old woman, had just received an unthinkable diagnosis: terminal cancer. Alongside Tricia, Kali Rogers, a highly recognized and acclaimed life coach, also makes an appearance in the documentary.

Directors Craig E. Shapiro and Tricia Russo do a masterful job bringing this story to life. The film's narrative does a brilliant job in capturing Russo's ongoing ordeal with an episodic format that paints a picture of her life, trials, and decisions. With a keen eye for the telling moment and a deep empathy for their subjects, the filmmakers craft a narrative that is as engaging as it is illuminating.

The plot of Love Always, Mom, unfolds as Russo enters a significant stage in her life - longing to become a mother. Despite the dire circumstances, Tricia, along with her supportive husband, decides to pursue their dream of starting a family. However, given her health predicament, this would prove to be a task filled with intricate complexities and very high risks. The viewer is taken along this poignant journey, showing the couple navigating their options - from a possible risky pregnancy to targeted chemotherapies, surrogacy, and egg donation.

The character of Kali Rogers plays a significant role in Tricia's journey. Rogers, a licensed therapist and life coach, brings a unique dimension to the movie, providing emotional support to Tricia throughout her journey. Her role is integral to the narrative, exploring the psychological and emotional challenges that come with Tricia's situation.

In addition, the film does not shy away from showing the different ways cancer affects the body and the psyche, and how it complicates the desire to have a child. It also puts a spotlight on the broader issue and struggle of couples dealing with infertility and significant health challenges.

The cinematography in this documentary is staunch, reflecting the authenticity of the story it seeks to tell. Real-life movies have a specific niche, and Love Always, Mom successfully manages to capture this human interest story with the right blend of honesty and sensitivity. The viewers are held captive from the first minute to the very end as they journey with Tricia and her husband Greg from the highs to the lows in their quest to become parents.

Interestingly, the film is not just about an individual's fight against cancer or an account of a desire to create life amidst chaos, it's a poignant documentation of a woman's tremendous strength of spirit and tenacity. It manifests the extent of human resilience in the face of adversity, bringing out the deepest emotions of love, faith, and unyielding hope. This extraordinary courage showcased by Tricia is what makes the documentary shine out and remain in the viewer's mind long after.

Even though Love Always, Mom is a documentary, it plays with the depth of a dramatic film and offers an insight into the narrative's raw truths. It's a celebration of life in spite of the odds. The story elegantly walks the thin line between being a heartbreaking reality check and an inspiring journey of absolute love and faith.

In all, Love Always, Mom is a depiction of the triumph of humanity and the strength to keep one's hopes alive amidst the grimmest realities. The film is refreshingly candid, unafraid of showing vulnerability and pain, yet filled with moments of love, laughter, and luminous hope. It is a salute to the human spirit and the sheer will to survive. The film leaves us with the compelling sight of a woman who, despite all odds, continues to choose love, life, and the promise of tomorrow.