Baby Mamas review

By Peter Feldman

Baby Mamas is aimed at women and should have no problem finding an audience because it’s frothy, fun and tells a few home truths.

Directed with style by Stephine Zwane, it takes a humorous, but heartfelt look at four professional South African women and their take on motherhood, the ups and the downs that go with it and the funny bits in between.

Salamina Mosese, who plays Toli, is also the co-managing director of Sorele Media, a media content company formed with her long-time friend, Stephina Zwane.

The four women, Toli, Chantel (Kay Smith) Sandy (Thembisa Mdoda) and Joy (Dineo Ranaka) all work for the same company. They are all going through various phases of their own baby mama drama.

They are a sophisticated, upwardly mobile group in South Africa’s multihued society, living in luxury and displaying good taste.

Sandy is still in love with the father of her child, but he seems to enjoy the freedom of having another relationship.

Toli discovers that the most difficult part of dating as a single mother is deciding how much you are willing to risk in pursuit of love and happiness.

Joy has to learn to let go of a relationship with a married man, while unmarried Chantel falls pregnant and is not sure what to do. Chantel’s parents are supportive but her boyfriend is unsure.

The script is witty and girl talk embroiders their lives, their friendships and how they rally around each other through each crisis.

The four players are well-known figures in TV, radio and in the print media and they certainly show their capabilities on the big screen, bonding together to give power to women.

It’s a bold venture and it worked for me.