My Mom Jayne is a new documentary that recently premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival before debuting on HBO and Max on June 27th. Director Mariska Hargitay was three years old when her mother, Jayne Mansfield, tragically died in a car accident at the age of 34. The film follows Mariska as she seeks to know, understand, and embrace her mother for the first time.

I didn’t start watching Law & Order: Special Victims Unit until a few years ago when Organized Crime. At that time, I felt like it was time to watch that show from start to finish, which was a big task, but it was totally worth it. That show would be what it is today without Mariska Hargitay. I still stay caught up with it today. Knowing how Hargitay has been consistently busy with that show, made it even more impressive with how she was able to fit a documentary into her schedule. Considering she hasn’t made anything like this, I had to check it out for myself. I highly recommend others do the same, because this will go down as one of the best documentaries of the year.

Even though Hargitay didn’t know her mother since she passed away when Hargitay was only three years old, Hargitay turns the focus completely towards her relationship with her mom and who her mother was. I could see this being a bit jarring for viewers unfamiliar with Hargitay as Hargitay presents herself as someone that everyone already knows. I suppose it’s already easy to know she she is. Considering how much is revealed about her personal life later on, my only small issue in the film lies within wanting more of that in the beginning. I think that would have been a nice touch.

Hargitay presents an honest and transparent viewpoint into someone she never really knew. As she has gotten older, it makes sense as to why she wants to better understand someone who made her. Without knowing that, you can see where Hargitay is trying to find out more about who she is personally. The film gives Hargitay the opportunity to give closure to a part of her life that was long lost. However, the film also showcases why I would like to see more of Hargitay directing documentaries like this.

By giving the film a transparent perspective, Hargitay not only lets us better understand the story here, but also better relate to the story. We have all wanted to better understand where we come from. Hargitay perfectly captures every defining moment with revelations that will make you only appreciate her even more as a human being. There’s a particular revelation that goes to show the complexity of her past and her accepting it today.

At about 100 minutes, the film does a great job at cutting between past and present, giving more context into Jayne’s life as well as showing what her legacy left behind within her family. It’s quite impressive how urgent makes Hargitay makes this become. By presenting it through a film, it gives someone Hargitay the opportunity to show how we can all move on and learn to accept things for what they are. Filming something like allows the film to present something that will forever be locked in and can be told for years to come.

Overall, My Mom Jayne is a beautiful and moving tribute told within a reasonable runtime, with shocking revelations throughout. Hargitay makes something that allows her to move on and accept things for what they are, but also allows others to feel seen and heard for the things they haven’t been able to accept in life. Hargitay shows real strength as a director that makes me even more excited for anything she may do next.

VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)