About the Project
For perfectionistic, over-achiever Michele, having a mom with severe mental illness means that Mother’s Day triggers an avalanche of dread and shame. “Doesn’t Hallmark make ANY cards for crazy moms?!” Michele struggles, through comedic twists and dramatic turns, just to make the holiday tolerable. Her driving need to break away from her identity as a the “daughter of the crazy lady” becomes a pressure cooker, and she drives herself hard to collect life achievements that she believes will save her from the shame of where she comes from. Until it backfires, and all that is left is exhaustion and shame.
But then, a deep dive into her Jewish ancestry reveals the truth about where her mother came from. Michele’s mother, and her ancestors throughout generations, were the savviest of survivors throughout the worst of human history. A journey of laughter and tears that stretches from modern US suburbia, through the depths of holocaust-era Berlin, Germany, and back again, Surviving Mother’s Day will leave audiences with renewed empathy for people with mental health struggles and hope about a daughter’s love for a less-than-ideal mother.
Production Team
