Bassam Tariq's new film, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, stars Mahershala Ali as Latif, a devout Muslim and contract killer who sees his violence as divine retribution. The film, set in Houston, is a pulpy samurai-coded neo-western that explores grief, spirituality, and cultural tensions.
From Blade to a personal project
Tariq was originally set to direct Marvel's Blade reboot, which Ali was attached to star in for several years. The project was abandoned, and Tariq says they were close to shooting before it shut down in 2022. 'Even though we had no script, which is why it shut down,' he explains.
The action sequences were fully planned after a year and a half of prep, including fight training for Ali. Tariq describes Marvel's process at the time as prioritizing action first, with story to follow. He notes that Marvel now waits for a great script before moving forward.
A personal origin
The film's seeds were planted after Tariq's wife had an infection following the birth of their first child in 2014. He searched New York City for breast milk, a frustration that became the opening of the film, where Latif searches for breast milk after his wife passes.
Tariq reflects on that moment: 'I remember that frustration. I felt like that anger towards divinity. And then, of course, my son was fine. I realized all he really needed at that moment was just for me be present as a father.'
Finding a new space
Tariq and Ali salvaged their Blade preparations for this more intimate film about a father discovering his kids are his superpower. 'I'm a lot happier that I made this movie,' Tariq says, comparing the Marvel experience to the freedom of this project.
'For where I am right now, this feels like the right space. My mind and heart feel very much at ease,' he adds. Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is out now in the US, in Australia on 9 October and in the UK on 20 November.
