This Is How Revolutions Are Born

I’ve been waiting a long time for this week. Monday night was the world premiere of No Country for Mothers in New York City, and I’ll be honest, if you’d told me a few years ago that I’d end up a film producer, I wouldn’t have believed you. But some dreams don’t ask for permission. You see a problem, and your soul decides to go solve it, your bandwidth and your sanity be damned. That’s how I ended up here.

Standing in that room full of mothers, allies, and advocates, watching 250 years of being conned finally get put on screen, was something I won’t forget. When we asked our associate producers to stand, then asked every mom in the room to stand, then every ally, the whole room ended up on its feet. That’s not just a film premiere. That’s a movement saying it’s done waiting.

NYC Film Premiere of No Country for Mothers in New York City

Then last night, moms across the country (and the world!) joined us virtually, for our first ever national watch party. Over 1,500 people signed up to watch the film together. Parents and allies who had spent the week juggling work, caregiving, and end-of-school chaos, carved out two hours to watch this film in community.

The chat box was like nothing I had seen before. “I’m so angry.” “We need to burn it all down.” And then: “We are more powerful than we realize.” “All we have to do is pull together and we can make positive change happen.”

This is how revolutions are born.

WHY THIS FILM, WHY NOW

Here’s the truth: motherhood in America is impossible by design. That’s not an accident. It’s a feature, not a bug. And we’ve been getting conned since the ink dried on the Constitution.

I don’t think there’s ever been a moment when we needed this film more. Moms are leaving the workforce in numbers we haven’t seen in years. The internet wants us fighting each other, trad wives against working moms, instead of fighting the system that failed all of us. Grocery bills and gas prices keep climbing while childcare costs more than housing in all 50 states. And just as moms were finally starting to talk openly about how hard this all is, DEI program rollbacks are making it harder to open up in public about what we’re actually carrying.

So many of us don’t have a village right now. We’re doing this alone, and that’s exactly how they want it. Because as long as we’re tearing each other apart, we’re not tearing down the system that put us here.

This film is one way to start building that village back. It’s a hand extended that says, I see you, I know what you’re going through, and I’ve got your back. From there, we can start demanding the change that actually makes motherhood sustainable (and dare I say, helps moms actually thrive).

BEFORE THE SUMMER SWALLOWS US WHOLE

I’ll be honest, summer snuck up on me this year. My son Shaan graduated elementary school today, and somehow that means camp drop-offs, packing lists, and a vacation I haven’t fully planned are all happening at once. If your summer feels the same, you’re not alone.

In the middle of all that chaos, I want to ask you for something small: put your own oxygen mask on first. Spend a couple hours with moms who get it. Watch No Country for Mothers together. Let this film be the thing that finally lets you exhale, even just for an evening, instead of one more thing on your list.

WHAT’S NEXT

Host a watch party. It doesn’t need to be fancy. A living room, a few chairs, and people who care is more than enough. Bring it to your group chat, your book club, your workplace. Every room that watches this film together becomes a room that can no longer be divided by the same old lies.

HOST A WATCH PARTY

Or find a watch party already on the calendar. We’ve got more than 200 screenings on the books across the country, so there’s a good chance one is happening near you.

FIND A SCREENING NEAR YOU

Either way, head to NoCountryForMothers.com to get started.

This film is gasoline, and you are the match. Thank you for being part of it.

RSVP FOR THE PARENTING WARS

On June 24 at 2:00 PM ET, I’m joining Auggie for a live conversation with Emily Oster and Jessica Grose on something we’ve been circling all week: why are parents still fighting each other, and what is it costing us?

We’ll be talking about the pressure, the judgment, the division, and what actually needs to change, culturally and structurally. I’d love for you to be there.

REGISTER NOW

SCREENINGS HAPPENING NEAR YOU

As we mentioned, we have more than 200 No Country for Mothers watch parties already scheduled across the country, and more are being added every day. Here are a few happening soon:

Atlanta, Georgia, June 20, 5-9 PM at Skewed Orbit Studios — RSVP
Portland, Oregon, June 22, 6-10 PM at Purple City Retreats — RSVP
Tampa, Florida, June 23, 6-8:30 PM at AIA Tampa Bay Center for Architecture and Design — RSVP
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, June 23, 5:45-8PM at UW-Oshkosh Culver Welcome Center — RSVP
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, June 25, 5:30-7:30PM at Wildhorse Cinema + Arts — RSVP
Hudson, New Hampshire, June 25, 6-8PM at Rodgers Memorial Library — RSVP
Queens, New York, June 25, 5:30-8PM at Stuart Cinema & Cafe — RSVP