Tully (2018)
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A struggling mother of three finds an unexpected bond with her night nanny as they navigate the complexities of parenthood and self-discovery.
The story
Marlo is a mother of three struggling with the demands of her children, including a son with an undiagnosed behavioral disorder. When her brother offers to hire a night nanny to help manage the household, Marlo initially resists but eventually accepts the help. The arrival of Tully, the night nanny, creates an unexpected and deep friendship between the two women. As they navigate the exhaustion of motherhood together, Marlo begins to reconnect with her own identity and her family, while Tully provides essential support and companionship during a period of intense personal and physical strain.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Marlo is a mother of three, including a son, Jonah, who has a behavioral disorder. After her brother offers to pay for a night nanny, Marlo hires Tully. The two women develop a deep bond as Tully helps Marlo manage the household and her own exhaustion. The narrative takes a surreal turn when Marlo, overwhelmed by sleep deprivation, ends up in a river and is rescued by a mermaid—who is revealed to be a hallucination of Tully. The film uses a non-linear structure in its final act, revealing that the scenes where Marlo and Tully appeared to be together were actually moments where Marlo was alone, struggling with postpartum depression. In the end, Marlo finds peace in her current life with her children and husband, while the memory of her bond with Tully remains a vital part of her journey.
- First release year
- 2018
- Runtime (minutes)
- 95
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jason Reitman
- Writers
- Diablo Cody · writer
- Cast and characters
- Charlize Theron · Marlo; Mackenzie Davis · Tully; Mark Duplass; Ron Livingston
- Genres
- comedy-drama
- Themes
- motherhood; friendship; postpartum depression
- Tone and mood
- humorous; raw; tender
- Setting
- Modern day, including a neighborhood in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
- Premise and plot tags
- buddy film; pregnancy; nanny
- Content notes
- pregnancy
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Theron and Davis and the portrayal of motherhood.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100 · review count: 52; PostTrak · score: 73%
- Awards and nominations
- Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy · Golden Globe Awards · 76th · nomination; Best Actress in a Comedy Movie · Critics' Choice Awards · 24th · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film is the third collaboration between Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody.; Charlize Theron gained nearly 50 pounds for her role.; The script was written by Diablo Cody as a way of dealing with her own difficult pregnancy.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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