Mahershala Ali is stepping into one of his most complex roles yet with ‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.’

The Oscar-winning actor is joined by John Cho and Adia in the gripping new film from writer-director Bassam Tariq.

That Grape Juice caught up with the stars at the BFI London Film Festival, where they opened up about the emotionally charged thriller and its exploration of faith, family, grief, and mortality.

With the film now gearing up for its UK cinema release, there’s plenty to unpack.

Full story below…

At the heart of the film is Ali’s Latif, a devout Muslim father of three who leads a double life as a contract killer.

When his wife dies, he must navigate the challenges of raising his children while protecting them from a dangerous world closing in around him.

Speaking with TGJ’s Nadia Mumuni, Ali reflected on stepping into Latif’s shoes and bringing the character’s complex relationship with faith, fatherhood, and his profession to the screen.

Meanwhile, Cho, who stars as Pastor Hwan, discussed his connection to the film’s central themes. The actor also revealed how his own experiences of fatherhood informed his perspective on the story.

Also joining the conversation was Adia, who portrays Latif’s daughter, Fatiha.

Behind the camera, Tariq brings a deeply personal perspective to the project.

The writer-director also joined TGJ for a separate conversation, reflecting on the balance between protecting one’s family and showing them love.

He explained:

“Sometimes as men, you have to know how to be a protector of your family … and then also how do you show them love? And I think a lot of the men that I’ve known in my life have been able to have this, what looks like a duality, but it’s … a sword with two sides.”

Interestingly, Tariq also pointed to ‘Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai’ as a key inspiration for the film’s story and its portrayal of a Muslim father navigating a dangerous world.

“It’s this movie ‘Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai,’ and it’s like an urban environment following ancient samurai codes. And when I was watching the movie, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s like being Muslim in America.’ So … I wanted to make a samurai movie. So, I did it through the lens of the world that I come from.”

Indeed, the movie draws partly from Tariq’s own experience as a father. After his wife suffered a medical emergency following childbirth, he found himself desperately searching for breast milk for their baby.

That real-life ordeal helped inspire Latif’s journey, adding an emotional dimension to a story otherwise filled with danger and high-stakes action.

The film also reunites Tariq with Ali following their abandoned ‘Blade’ collaboration.

Reflecting on their creative partnership, the director told TGJ:

“It was a question of always when we’d work together, not if. And it’s just spiritually aligned for both of us.”

As previously reported, the Marvel project ultimately paved the way for the pair to bring this original story to life.

Blending explosive action with an intimate family drama, ‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ offers plenty more than the traditional hitman thriller.

The film also stars Giancarlo Esposito, Abubakr Ali, and Laith Nakli.

‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother’ arrives in UK cinemas on November 20.

Watch our exclusive interviews with Mahershala Ali, John Cho, and Adia above!

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[Photo Credit: That Grape Juice]

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