Mary and Martha poster

Mary and Martha(2013)

1h 30mDrama, TV MovieEnglish
6.3/10
84 user ratings

Two mothers lose their sons to malaria.

Overview

Wealthy American housewife Mary Morgan takes her bullied son George out of school for home education,including a trip to Southern Africa. Whilst in Mozambique George is bitten by a mosquito which crawls through a hole in his net and dies of malaria. After his funeral at home Mary feels a compulsion to return to Africa where she meets English woman Martha O'Connell,whose 24 year old son Ben, a teacher with voluntary service overseas,has also died of malaria. Ben gave his net to one of his pupils,believing adults cannot catch malaria. The two women are shocked to see the high death rate caused by the disease and,whilst Martha stays in Africa as a voluntary helper,Mary petitions the American government to change things. Martha turns up at Mary's house unannounced and,helped by Mary's ex-diplomat father,they address a senate committee on health spending,persuading them to do more to combat malaria. They meet with some success though a coda states that much more can be done.

Director

Phillip Noyce

Studio

BBC

Share:

Cast

Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank

as Mary

Brenda Blethyn

Brenda Blethyn

as Martha

Sam Claflin

Sam Claflin

as Ben

Frank Grillo

Frank Grillo

as Peter

James Woods

James Woods

as Mary's Father

Adam Neill

Adam Neill

as Teacher

Stephen Jennings

Stephen Jennings

as Principal

Chandler McIntyre

Chandler McIntyre

as Hannah

Stephanie Faracy

Stephanie Faracy

as Head of Committee

Melissa Ponzio

Melissa Ponzio

as Alice

Simone White

as Tracy

Dominika Jablonska

Dominika Jablonska

as Pilates Teacher

Where to Watch

Availability may vary by region. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Movie Facts

Release Year

2013

Runtime

1h 30m

Language

English

Rating

6.3 / 10

Production Companies

BBC • HBO Films • Universal Television

You Might Also Like

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch Mary and Martha?

Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for Mary and Martha (2013).

What is Mary and Martha about?

Wealthy American housewife Mary Morgan takes her bullied son George out of school for home education,including a trip to Southern Africa. Whilst in Mozambique George is bitten by a mosquito which crawls through a hole in his net and dies of malaria. After his funeral at home Mary feels a compulsion to return to Africa where she meets English woman Martha O'Connell,whose 24 year old son Ben, a teacher with voluntary service overseas,has also died of malaria. Ben gave his net to one of his pupils,believing adults cannot catch malaria. The two women are shocked to see the high death rate caused by the disease and,whilst Martha stays in Africa as a voluntary helper,Mary petitions the American government to change things. Martha turns up at Mary's house unannounced and,helped by Mary's ex-diplomat father,they address a senate committee on health spending,persuading them to do more to combat malaria. They meet with some success though a coda states that much more can be done.

Who directed Mary and Martha?

Mary and Martha was directed by Phillip Noyce and released in 2013. It is a drama, tv movie film.

How long is Mary and Martha?

Mary and Martha has a runtime of 1 hours and 30 minutes (90 minutes total).

Who stars in Mary and Martha?

The cast of Mary and Martha includes Hilary Swank as Mary, Brenda Blethyn as Martha, Sam Claflin as Ben, Frank Grillo as Peter, James Woods as Mary's Father and more.

Explore More by Genre

Need a recommendation?

Tell us your mood and we'll pick the perfect movie for you.